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I^'ALClvNER. 
 
JUSTUS FALCKNER 
 
 /Iftl^stic anb Scbolac 
 
 DEVOUT PIETIST IN GERMANY 
 HERMIT ON THE WISSAHICKON 
 MISSIONARY ON THE HUDSON 
 
 A 
 
 Bi-Centennial Memorial 
 
 OF THE First Regular Ordination of an Orthodox Pastor in 
 
 America, done November 24, 1703, at Gloria Dei, the 
 
 Swedish Lutheran Church at Wicaco, Philadelphia 
 
 Compiled from Original Documents, Letters and Records at Home and Abroad 
 
 Julius frtebricb Sacbec, Xitt.2)» 
 
 Member American Philosophical Society — Historical Society of Pennsylvania — Pennsyl- 
 vania-German Society — American Historical Association — XIII 
 International Congress of Orientalists, etc., etc. 
 
 Pfjilatjelp^i'a : 
 PRINTED FOR THE 'ArjTHO'R" '; 
 
 MDCCCCIII 
 
.Fil 
 
 Of this Letter Press Edition 
 Five Hundred Copies have been Printed 
 
 No. 
 
 ^/A 
 
 February, 1903. 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 CCNGfiESS, 
 
 Two Copies 
 
 Received 
 
 APR 7 
 
 1903 
 
 i'' Copyrignt 
 (iLASS <^ 
 
 E-ntty 
 /Cff3 
 XXa No. 
 
 S 0^ ^3 
 
 COPY B. 
 
 copyright 1903 
 By Julius F. Sachse. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 ■ . , PRESS OF 
 
 TAi^ new era printing COItPANV 
 • .ANCA8TER, PA. 
 
flDublcnbero College, 
 
 The Institution Bearing the Name and Perpetiating 
 THE Faith of 
 
 Ibenrs /llbelcbior /iBublcnbcrg 
 
 The Patriarch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 
 
 IN America, who Cherished, Revived and Prorogated 
 
 THE Seed cast into the Virgin s6il of Pennsylvania 
 
 and New York by 
 
 Dominic Justue ifalcftner 
 
 Who was the First Lutheran Minister Ordained 
 IN North America 
 
 THIS 
 
 /Memorial is reepectfull:^ S>e^icate^ 
 
 111 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 ®' 
 
 iF all the interesting char- 
 acters, prominent in the 
 early history of the settlement 
 of Pennsylvania, none are more 
 so than the company of Ger- 
 man Pietists, Mystics and The- 
 osophists, who, in the year 1694 
 settled on the shores of the 
 romantic Wissahickon, a tribu- 
 tary to the Schuylkill, and now 
 within the corporate bounds of the City of Philadelphia. 
 The stories of Magister Kelpius, Johan Selig, Daniel Falck- 
 ner, the heroic Koster, and their associates have served as a 
 theme for many writers. The subject has been'exhaustively 
 treated by Rev. T. E. Schmauk, D.D., in his new " History 
 of the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania" as well as by the 
 present writer in his " German Pietists." 
 
 No incident, however, in the life or history of this Mystic 
 Community surpasses the story of Justus Falckner, the 
 younger brother of Daniel Falckner. How he came here 
 with his brother upon his retin-n to America, and at first 
 withdrew from the world and lived as a recluse or hermit 
 in a sheltered dell on the Wissahickon, passing his time in 
 
 (O 
 
2 Prologue. 
 
 prayer, study and silent contemplation. Thence urged by 
 the appeals of the Hollandish Lutherans in the valley of 
 the Hudson who were in dire straits, and the persuasion of 
 the Swedish pastors on the Delaware, finally consented to 
 be ordained by them to the ministry, according to the 
 Swedish Lutheran ritual, in the venerable landmark on the 
 Delaware, " Gloria Dei," after which he at once assumed 
 charge of the scattered Lutherans in the adjoining Colonies, 
 and remained a faithful shepherd amongst them until called 
 to join the church triumphant. 
 
 The present year marks the two hundredth anniversary 
 of this ordination, and it is but meet and right that some 
 special notice be taken of this episode, and that the story 
 of this noble missionary should be more widely known — 
 how he labored for twenty years in his extended field, 
 reaching from Manhattan to Albany, and East New Jersey 
 to Long Island, until at last he succumbed a martyr to his 
 zeal and duty. 
 
 Upon this account the writer presents this sketch as a 
 Bi-Centennial Memorial to that devout pioneer. The foun- 
 dation of this story is my chapter on Justus Falckner in 
 the " German Pietists." Much new and additional material 
 of greatest importance, however, is presented in the present 
 publication — material gathered at home and abroad at a 
 great cost of time and labor. The finding of the letters 
 from the Swedish pastors and the diploma of ordination 
 signed at the Old Swedish Church, November 24, 1703, 
 now published for the first time, however, amply repaid the 
 writer for his outlay. 
 
 This memorial is issued in the hope that the history 
 of this devout pioneer may be further investigated and 
 studied, and that the name of Domine Justus Falckner, 
 the German Pietist of the Halle School, hermit and theos- 
 
Prologue. 3 
 
 ophist on the Wissahickon, and devout pastor and mis- 
 sionary in New York, may be enrolled in its proper place 
 in the historic annals of our state and country. 
 
 Acknowledgments are due to the College van Ouder- 
 lingen der Evang. Luthersche Gemeente te Amsterdam, 
 specially to Pastor Van Wijk, Jr., Captain A. F. P. Car- 
 tens and Herr G. D. Martens of that corporation, also to 
 Rev. J. H. Sieker, pastor of St. Matthew's Ev. Luth- 
 eran Church in New York, who is a direct successor in 
 office to the subject of our sketch, to Rev. Henry Eyster 
 Jacobs, D.D., for assistance in the Latin translations, 
 to the Right Reverend Archbishop of Sweden, at Upsala, 
 for the verification of the diploma of ordination, to the offi- 
 cials of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for cour- 
 tesies extended to the writer, and to William C. Lane, Esq., 
 librarian of Harvard University, for title page of Zenger 
 pamphlet and Swedish pastoral. 
 
 i^ 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Prologue ■• 1-3 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Justus Falckner. 
 Genealogy — Arms — Earliest Record — Halle Uni- 
 versity — Thomasius and Francke — Student at Halle 
 
 — Composes Hymns, " Rise Ye Children of Salvation," 
 " If Our All on Him We Venture." — Candidat Theo- 
 logia — Leaves Halle, Journeys to Dutchy of Schles- 
 
 w^ig — Dominie Miihlen i3~-3 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Daniel Falckner. 
 Returns to Europe — Aug. Her. Francke, Leader of 
 German Pietists on Wissahickon. — Falckner's Report 
 
 — German Pietists in Pennsylvania and Virginia. — 
 Philadelphian Society. — Reception at Halle — Citizen 
 and Pilgrim in Pennsylvania — Answers Questions — 
 Abstracts Published — Political Nature of Visit — Re- 
 ports to Benj. Furley. — Frankfort Company Appoint 
 Him to Supersede Pastorius — At Rotterdam — Lubeck 
 
 — Return to America 24-3 1 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 On the Wissahickon. 
 Arrival of Daniel and Justus Falckner — Bailiff and 
 Burgess — Justus Retires to Hermit's Cabin — Sends 
 Missive to Dom : Muhlen. in Scheswig. — Returns to 
 Active Life, Attorney for Penn and Furley — Before 
 Land Commissioners — Spleen of Pastorius — Purity 
 of Character 3-~37 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Falckner's Missive from Germantown. 
 Condition of the Church in America — As a Her- 
 mit — Indians — Innumerable Sects — Quakers — Evan- 
 
 (5) 
 
6 Contents. 
 
 gelic, Lutheran and Reformed Churches — Swedes and 
 Their Church — Germans — Attend Swedish Church — 
 Pastor Rudman Delivers German Address — "Satur- 
 nine Stingy Qiiaker Spirit " — Appeal for an Organ for 
 Gloria Dei — Qiiotes Luther — Asks for Intercession 
 with Sweden's King. Colophon 38-48 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Causes Leading to the Ordination at Wicacoa. 
 Justus Falckner's Interest in Swedish Church — 
 Dom. Rudman Called to New York, Assumes Lutheran 
 Charges. — Taken Sick with Yellow Fever — Returns 
 to Philadelphia — Sends Call to Justus Falckner — 
 Rudman and Biorck Remove Falckner's Scruples' — 
 Interesting Correspondence — Call Extended from New 
 York, Biorck's Missive — Acceptance of the Call . . 49-59 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The Ordination at Gloria Dei. 
 
 A Venerable Landmark — Solemn Occasion — His- 
 toric Importance, November 24, 1 703 — Procession — 
 Candidate Invocation — Rudman as Vice Bishop — 
 Questions and Answers, Apostolic Succession — Sign- 
 ing of the Ordination Diploma 60-71 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Dominie Falckner in New York. 
 Arrives in New York — Accepts the Charge — Re- 
 ports to Amsterdam — Sends Copy of Ordination Di- 
 ploma, Finding of this Document, Fascimile — An Im- 
 portant Historic Document — Latin Invocation in Church 
 Book, Troublesome Times — His Extended Charges — 
 Calls Church Meeting — Appeals for Financial Help — 
 Description of Church — First Report to Amsterdam — 
 Needs of the Congregation 72-80 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Copy of the Report to the Amsterdam Consistory. . 81-84 
 
Contents. 7 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A Rare Bradford Imprint. 
 
 Lutheran vs. Calvinist, A Rare Book — Justus Falck- 
 ner's Fundamental Instructions — Compendium Doc- 
 trinae Anti-CalvinianvuTi — Facsimile of First Original 
 Lutheran Hymn printed in America — Falckner's Ex- 
 tended Charges, New York to Albany, New Jersey 
 to Long Island — Kocherthal — Biorck's Account of 
 Justus Falckner's Ministrations. S5-94 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 Dominie Falcker's Church Records. 
 Records of Old Trinity Church — How Rescued — 
 Commenced by Dom. Rudman, Table of Contents — 
 Facsimile — Baptismal Register — Invocations — Com- 
 municants — Indian Baptism — Exorcism of Satan — 
 Baptism of Negro Slave — Rev. John Sharpe — Dom. 
 Falckner's Marriage, Facsimile of Entry — Letter of 
 Thanks to Amsterdam, Last Entry and Death of Dom- 
 inie Justus Falckner — Widow and Children — His 
 Character — Documentary Evidence 95-1 1^ 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 The Van Dieren Controversy. 
 
 Dom. Falckner's Experience with Van Dieren, Hes- 
 selius' Advice to Falckner — Berkenmeyer's pamphlet — 
 Title — Falckner Admonishes his People Against Van 
 Dieren — Sybrand's Offer — Johann Michael Schiitz — 
 Contradictory Missive — Van Dieren's Attempts to 
 Preach, Ejected from Pulpit — Description of Church 
 — Account of Services — Trials of the Pastor — Tailor 
 and Preacher — Van Dieren and his Actions, Alleged 
 Ordination by Pastor Gerard Henckel — Opposition of 
 Swedish Pastors 116-131 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Pastoral to the Hackensack Congregation. 132-138 
 
LIST OF PLATES. 
 
 Falckner arms , 
 
 Tutors of Justus Falckner fac 
 
 Magister Kelpius • . 
 
 Typical Hermit's Cabin 
 
 Falckner Swamp Lutheran Church 
 
 Gloria Dei (old Swedes) Wicacoa, exterior 
 
 " " " interior, organ loft 
 
 " " " tomb of Dom. Rudman . . . 
 
 " " " interior, chancel 
 
 " " " ancient Swedish carvings . . 
 
 Dominie Eric Tobias Bidrck 
 
 New York, street scene in 1704 
 
 '' Old Dutch Stadt Hujs 
 
 " " Trinity Lutheran Church, 1729 
 
 Certificate of ordination ... 
 
 Old Lutheran Church at Amsterdam 
 
 Swedish Churches on the Delaware, Cranehook 
 
 Church of 163S . 
 " " " " " Christina .... 
 
 " " " " " Penn's Neck . . . 
 
 " " ii ii .1 Racoon 
 
 The Valley of Schoharie.. . 
 
 frontispiece 
 ing page 16 
 
 24 
 
 .32 
 " 36 
 
 44 
 " 48 
 " 52 
 
 60 
 " 64 
 " 56 
 " 72 
 " 96 
 
 79 
 " 74-75 
 
 82 
 
 " 106 
 
 " 112 
 
 " 120 
 
 " 136 
 
 128 
 
 (9) 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 ARMS. 
 
 Falckner .... 13 
 
 Halle 14 
 
 Lubeck 23 
 
 William Penn 24 
 
 Rostock 33 
 
 Pastorius 36 
 
 Schleswig 38 
 
 Amsterdam 81 
 
 Printer's Guild 84 
 
 New York (i686) 92 
 
 New York Colony i£_5 
 
 Holland 131 
 
 Sweden 132 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS. 
 
 Sprogel, John H. . . . 
 
 Falckner, Justus 
 
 Falckner, Daniel 
 
 Furly, Benjamin 
 
 Kelpius, Johannes .... 
 Falckner, Justus and Daniel . 
 
 Rudman, And 
 
 Biorck, Rev. E. T 
 
 Gerhartt, Henkell 
 
 H 
 14 
 25 
 30 
 30 
 35 
 50 
 .S7 
 134 
 
 TITLE PAGES AND 
 FACSIMILES. 
 
 Hvmn, "Auf ihr Christen " . 
 
 19 
 
 Weyrauch's Hiigel 
 
 20 
 
 Curieuse Nachricht, 1702 . . 
 
 28 
 
 Continuatio, 1704 
 
 29 
 
 Missive to Muhlen 
 
 40 
 
 Colophon to Missive .... 
 
 47 
 
 Rudman's entry in rhurchbook 
 
 • 51 
 
 
 (I 
 
 Rudman's letter to Falckner. 
 Rudman's reply to Falckner , 
 Biorck to Falckner ..... 
 Notice to Amsterdam .... 
 Certificate of Ordination . . 
 Falckner's first entry .... 
 Falckner's official signature . 
 Grondlycke Onderricht, title 
 
 Original hymn 
 
 Quassaik Church .... 
 Dissertatio Gradualis, title 
 
 Falckner's Entry 
 
 Baptismal Record ... 
 Section of Map, 1704 . . . 
 Section of Map, 1740 . . 
 Communicant Record . . 
 New York Paper Money . 
 
 Marriage Entry 
 
 Getrouwe Wachter Stem . 
 
 EMBELLISHMENTS. 
 Headpiece, History .... 
 
 Halle Student 
 
 Halle University 
 
 Halle Lecture Room . ., . . 
 
 Rostock, View of 
 
 Headpiece, Literature . . 
 
 Halle, View of 
 
 Falckner Colophon .... 
 Headpiece, Mysticism .... 
 Minuet's Monument .... 
 
 Headpiece, Dawn 
 
 Gloria Dei, A. D. 1800 . . 
 
 Headpiece, X. P 
 
 Seal of Solomon 
 
 o) 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 53 
 56 
 58 
 73 
 74-75 
 76 
 
 77 
 88 
 
 89 
 91 
 93 
 97 
 99 
 100 
 
 lOI 
 
 103 
 105 
 107 
 117 
 
 13 
 16 
 
 15 
 17 
 
 22 
 
 24 
 26 
 
 31 
 32 
 37 
 38 
 48 
 49 
 49 
 
llliisirations. 
 
 II 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Tailpiece, Light and Time . . 59 
 
 Headpiece, Faith 60 
 
 Halle Symbol 60 
 
 Portrait, Rev. Collin 71 
 
 Headpiece, pilgrims 72 
 
 Labor and hope 72 
 
 Seal of New York 77 
 
 Seal of New York Congregation 78 
 
 Gloria Dei, A. D. 1700 .... 80 
 
 Headpiece, Dutch 81 
 
 Headpiece, Labor 85 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Falckner Seal 94 
 
 Headpiece, Manuscript .... 95 
 
 Ephrata pilgrim 95 
 
 Albany Seal 102 
 
 Portrait Wm. Vesey .... 108 
 
 Headpiece, Controversy ... 116 
 
 Vignette 116 
 
 Headpiece . 132 
 
 Book plate London Society . 135 
 
 Tailpiece, finis 138 
 
 '■^f^.flro^yr'.wya< ■ 
 
"Cbe jFalcftncr Brms from Seal of 
 3uBtu8 Jfalckncr. 
 
 5' 
 
 USTUS FALCKNER, 
 
 born November 22, 
 1672, was the fourth 
 son of Rev. Daniel Falck- 
 ner, the Lutheran pastor at 
 Langen-Reinsdorf (former- 
 ly known as Langen-Rhens- 
 dorf and Langeramsdorf), 
 near Crimmitschau, parish 
 of Zwickau, situated in that 
 part of Saxony formerly 
 known as the Markgravate 
 of Meissen, and was a scion 
 of an old Lutheran family. His ancestors on both sides 
 had been ordained Lutheran ministers. 
 
 His grandfather. Christian Falckner (d. November 5, 
 1658), as well as his son Daniel Falckner (d. April 7, 
 1764) father of the subject of our sketch, were both pastors 
 of Langen-Reinsdorf. The latter left four children, viz : 
 Paul Christian, born February 2, 1662 ; Daniel, born No- 
 vember 25, 1666; a third child of whom the writer has 
 found no record, and Justus, the subject of our sketch.^ 
 
 ^For the history of Daniel Falckner-vide Dr. Schmauk's "Lutheran 
 Church in Pennsylvania, 163S-1S00," and Sachse's " German Pietists, 
 1694-1708." 
 
 ^3) 
 
14 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 
 All the sons were educated with the same object in view, 
 and were eventually ordained to the holy ministry. 
 
 He was the younger brother of Daniel Falckner, a 
 leader among the German Pietists, who came to America in 
 
 1694 with Kelpius and Koster, and accompanied him upon 
 his return to Pennsylvania in the year 1700, and together 
 with Johann Jauert, Arnold Storch, Johann Heinrich and 
 Ludovic Christian Sprogel, and others, reinforced the com- 
 munity of German Pietists who had 
 established themselves on the roman- 
 tic banks of the Wissahickon a short 
 distance from Germantown. 
 
 I', The earliest official record of Jus- 
 tus Falckner known to the present 
 writer, excepting the entry of his 
 birth, is that recorded in the oldest 
 register of the venerable university 
 at Halle a. S. Germany, which bears the following title 
 and date, viz : 
 
 " Catalogus derer Studiosorum, so auf hiesiger FRIED- 
 RICHS, Universitdt^ itnmatriculiret woi'den. Nach Ord- 
 nung des Alphabet's Eingerichtet. De Anno MDCXCIH." 
 The first entry upon the sixth page reads : 
 " FALCKNER, Justy, Langeramsdorf, Miss." 
 "P. R. Thomasius, 1693, 20 Jan." 
 
 ^ ■^WSiHsr^/'^l/cytlner^ 
 
 
Student at Halle. 
 
 15 
 
 The above entry shows that Justus Falckner was one of 
 the students at Leipzig who followed Thomasius ^ to Halle 
 after the latter's expulsion from that city. 
 
 
 ieaiteWaageam/V^grhf^ 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY AT HALLE, A.D. 169S. 
 
 Just how long the student remained at the university at 
 Halle is not known to the writer. There is ample evi- 
 
 '^ Thomasius was one of the most distinguished German philosophers of 
 his time ; born at Leipsic|in 1665, he studied at Frankfort on the Oder, and 
 returning to Leipsic in 1679 delivered philosophical lectures there. His 
 freedom of thinking, however, raised him manj enemies, and he was 
 finally obliged to leave the country. He went to Halle in 1690, where he 
 took an active interest in establishing the university, and three years later 
 became a professor and afterwards, head of the university. Thomasius 
 was the first in Germany to exert his influence to procure the abolition of 
 torture, of trials for witchcraft, and of restraints upon freedom of thought. 
 It was under the tutelage of this great man that Justus Falckner studied 
 and graduated. 
 
i6 
 
 Dominie JusUis Falckner. 
 
 dence, however, during his sojourn there that he was in 
 close touch with the celebrated German Pietist, August 
 Herman Francke,^ under whom he studied the oriental 
 
 A STUDENT AT THE HALLE UNIVERSITY, 1698-I7OO. 
 
 languages at the university, and who was then one of the 
 recognized religious leaders in Europe. 
 
 * August Herman Francke, German Pietist, theologian and philanthro- 
 pist, was born at Liibeck, March 23, 1663. Embracing the pietistical 
 teachings of Spener, he began to lecture on the practical interpretation of 
 
Within the Aula. 
 
 17 
 
1 8 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 The devout and spiritual trend of mind of the young 
 theological student is best shown by several of his hymns, 
 incorporated at the time by Francke in his revised hymn- 
 book : 
 
 '* Geistreiches Gesang Buck " Halle i6gy. 
 
 The most noted of these hymns is the one commencing 
 with the line : 
 
 '■'' Auf 1 ihr Christen^ Christi glieder." 
 
 This is found on page 430 of the original edition. This 
 hymn is a stirring, vigorous composition of eleven stanzas 
 of six lines each. It was set to the melody " Meine Hof- 
 nung stehet veste" and was well calculated to raise the 
 religious fervor of the worshippers. 
 
 Upon a manuscript copy of this hymn, Falckner notes 
 two references to the scriptures as his theme, or the foun- 
 dation of its composition, viz. : 
 
 " Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His 
 might" (Eph. vi. 10). 
 
 " For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world, and is the vic- 
 tory that overcometh the world, even our faith " (i John v. 4). 
 
 Originally the hymn was designated, " An encourage- 
 ment to conflict in the Christian warfare," it was retained 
 by Freylinghausen in the make-up of his Gesang Buck of 
 1704, but in subsequent editions it was relegated to the 
 
 the Bible, and met with so much success that he was attacked on all sides, 
 and the celebrated Thomasius, then residing at Leipsic, undertook his de- 
 fence. \ Successively driven from Leipsic and Erfurth, he went to Halle as 
 nrofessor of the new university, at first, of the Oriental languages, and 
 afterwards of theology. Francke was personally interested in the band of 
 German Pietists who settled on the Wissahickon under Kelpius, 1694-1708. 
 The old Trappe Church in Pennsylvania was named in his honor, ''Die 
 Augustus Kirche," by Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who was sent to 
 these shores in 1743 by the son, Rev. Gotthilf August Francke. 
 
As an Hymnist. 
 
 19 
 
 J95. DTcl. mcine ^off: 
 rtun0 (ie|)et :c. 
 
 OrUr/il)i- et)ri|leii, ef)tini 
 
 <4 tolieDet! Die i^r nod) 
 i)auijt an bcm ^?aupt;auf! 
 roat^t auflcrmannt ciict) role^ 
 fcer, c() i()r roerDei ()ittgeraubt. 
 ^OiKm 6tur an btn ^StKit 
 ^^I'illo unb Dei' €^i'iRenl)eit. 
 
 3. 2iuf!foIgt€^riftO/ «urcin 
 ^elbe, trailer feinem (Ifircfen 
 9f rm, liegt ber @atan gleid) in 
 Selbcmiibfin gan^en ^oilen= 
 ©(tt^rtrm : imb borf) btr nod) 
 t>(e(inet)r, bie "^(x flet^ fmb um 
 un^ ()er. 
 
 ?.2i^uranf(If)clfli53lut «?!'!> .V 
 flctmit (Scbet unb 2J3ad)fain: 
 feit,biefc^ macf)ct iinoerjaget. 
 unb rcc^t tnpfrc 5?ricgc^-?cut ; 
 €t)rifli 55li:r gibt un5 ^XfJutl) 
 iPieber afic 3:cufclg--55rut. 
 4- <5f)ri|li ^eere^CreM^eg:^^^^ 
 ne, fo ba roei^ iinb rot() ge^ 
 fprengt.iO fd)on ouf bcm6iegt^ 
 ^Jlanc ung jum ^loilc au^gc^ 
 bQngt;n)crl)tec fcicgt.ntc er; 
 liegt, fonbern untecm ercutjc 
 fiegr. 
 
 %. S:>\i\tX[ ®ieg f)flt aiirf) em« 
 pfiinbcn Dieler ^eKgen jlartfer 
 ^\\{\), \i(x Oe baben uberrounbc 
 frblidb burcf) be8 fames 55Iur 
 feolten roir bann aQbier aud) 
 1iid)tnrettenfn{t denier. 
 
 6. 3Bec Dit<^laottti> iiur fic^ 
 
 &er,5Uifct)e?:Ti!if)unb6i(f)ef 
 ()eit/UnbDcn'£imt)en(iff)erqir 
 bet, bee l)at ti^ctiig fuji jum 
 ®t^cit;benbicSHrl)f,^2Q(Q^!i 
 ^ad)t,l)at il)ninbcn 6(t)iQ/ 
 gebracftt. 
 
 7. 2ibcrn)cnblc3Cci5l)titie!). 
 ret, roas bie 5i'«i)l)eii fur nn 
 Xl)etl,bc|Tcni>ciiiui(yjDiifi(D 
 fe()rct,feincm anci1)o(J)fie M 
 furi)iaQeinot)ne(2d)tinQI)iifii 
 freocr ^ned)t ju fcijii. 
 
 8. 2)ennt)ci'gniig!aii(tiiPoM 
 bas Cebcn, fo Der ^rei)beii iiiiiii: 
 gelnmuf?!I6cc fid) (yDn 111(1)1 
 gan^ crgebcn, i)nt nui ^?ii!), 
 5Ing|l unb ?^^rbrlI|i;^cr,^er 
 frtegf red)t DerSniigt/ireifciii 
 i'eben fclfr|l befieg:. 
 
 9. Brum ail f! la^fiin^iifcr: 
 roinben m bcin 35luie ^Cfu 
 C()ri|l nnb nn«unfre ®iiin{ 
 btnbenfein35orf,focin3<iigmf 
 ill ba^ unj becft unb ern3t(fi, 
 unbnad)Ci3oiie5{?icbefcl)incifi. 
 
 10. Unfcrl'c&enfei)ccrl'ocgcn 
 init6l)ri|l0MiC^OttniJi:|n,aii| 
 
 baf roil an ien<:!n^lL)?oigeii III" 
 il)tnotfcnbar and) fci)n,tiaDns 
 
 I'eibbiefer^einpci-btiiwicJ)^'' 
 
 lamer :^reub. 
 
 11. 5)a (3^DM feiiicn frcucn 
 ^ncd)tengcbenn)irt)Ccne)n«; 
 
 ben=eo()ny iinb bie ^:ificiij'«f 
 (ikrtd)icnl]immen an ben ^it' 
 
 qe^.:j:f)on; ba fiiripn'.H'^/' 
 leg ed)aoriDn nurD lc«a 
 immtjcbar. 
 
 FACSIMILE OF HYMN IN THE ZIONITISCHER WEYRAUCHS HUGEL. 
 
20 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 Anhang ox appendix. Thus in the edition of 1731 it be- 
 came hymn No. 634, p. 769. 
 
 From the very outset the hymn came into extended use 
 in both Europe and America. It became a favorite hymn 
 with the so-called separatists, or dissenters from the 
 orthodox church, and was incorporated into their hymn- 
 books ; a prominent instance being the Davidsche Psalter 
 S-piel der Kinder Zions, Berlenburg, 17 18. This was the 
 
 ZIONITISCHER 
 
 06tr: 
 
 t>(i nad) Slpoibircci Sunn lu6(C(llclU 
 
 3iQu(^ , iiSKrtf ju (in6(n. 
 
 Befiebenb 
 
 2n olltrlti) !'ifb<iS.'2Uurcfung«n ttx in ®OtX 
 
 StjjtiligicnStdtn, rodctitfiit in oidtr unb manitcrlM 
 
 gii|)li(ttn uno iKtlKtcn i^ittxcn aujgcbilbii. 
 
 an bacinnm 
 
 2>(r ItQKKuff ju btm abenbma^I bw grop 
 
 fen iBiDties auf unttrfctncMid>c tDeife 
 
 tretflid) aiis geSrucfeWfii 
 
 ivm Siin|1 
 
 I)fr in bfm Slbfnb • WnSifchm ^c(t -- i5;f)«il all 
 
 tit) Htm Unltcgan^ btc Sonntii (tmtdKn XkS)I 
 
 6)Ol>«> unD III il)rtr Scmunluimg auf Mc 
 
 SDiiicrnditii'ii 3u(un|Ji Ct< Si'iiurigomi 
 
 0118 Hicbt tjcgebeii. 
 
 CiriiianKicg . OfDcutti (iii Sbriflort Saucr. 
 
 TITLE PAGE OF FIRST BOOK PRINTED WITH GERMAN TYPE IN AMERICA. 
 
 first distinct hymnal published for the use of the Separatists. 
 In America it was incorporated in the celebrated Zio- 
 nitischcr Weyrauchs Hiigel^ of the Ephrata Community 
 (Sauer, 1738, hymn 395, page 444); also in der Kleine 
 Davidische Psalterspiel der kinder Zions (Sauer, hymn 38, 
 page 41), and a number of other early American hymn- 
 books. It is also to be found in the Manuscript Hymnal 
 of the Zionitic Brotherhood, which is known as the Para- 
 
As ayi Uymnist. 2i 
 
 diesische Nachts Trofffen^ i734 (hymn ii, p. 6).* This 
 hymn, after a lapse of two centuries, is still used by nearly 
 all the Protestant denominations in Germany, and is re- 
 tained in their hymnology in America as well, the latest in- 
 stance being its retention by the Lutheran Church of the 
 United States in their new German Kirchen Buck, wherein 
 it is hymn 331. Especial attention is called to it in Stip's 
 Unverfdlschtcr Liedersegen (Berlin, 185 1). 
 
 Julian, in his Dictionary of Hymnology, mentions the 
 following translations into the English language : "Rise, 
 ye children of Salvation " (omitting stanza four) in Mrs. 
 Bevans' "Songs of Eternal Life," 1858, page 10. Three 
 centos ' have come into use, the translations of stanzas, 
 one, three and nine, in Dr. Pagenstecher's collection, 1864 ; 
 — of stanzas one, five, nine and eleven in the English 
 Presbyterian psalms and hymns, 1867 ; and the Temple 
 Hymn-Book, 1867 ; and stanzas one, five and eleven in 
 Laudes Domini, New York, 1884. 
 
 Another one of his hymns is 
 
 " If our all on Him tue Venture ^'^ 
 
 a. translation of stanzas three, as stanza two of hymn No. 
 1064 in the supplement of 1808 to the Moravian Hymn- 
 Book of 1801. 
 
 Another celebrated hymn attributed to Justus Falckner is : 
 
 O Plerr der Herrlichkeit 
 O Glantz der Seligkeit, 
 Du Licht vom Lichte, 
 Der Miiden siisser Saft, 
 Des grossen Vater's Kraft, 
 Sein Angesichte. 
 
 * Collection of Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
 
 * Cento, a composition formed by verses or passages from different 
 authors disposed in a new order. 
 
22 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
At Lilbeck and Rostock. 
 
 23 
 
 This hymn was also printed in the Weyrauchs Hugcl (No. 
 475 » P- 540) ^"d Sauer's Psalterspiel (No. 361). 
 
 It is not known to a certainty how long the academic 
 term of young Falckner lasted at Halle. When he left 
 that institution he was what was 
 known as a Candidat Theologia 
 or a candidate for holy orders. 
 
 It appears that, after he left 
 Halle, he went to Liibeck and 
 Rostock. The former city was 
 the birthplace of his friend and 
 tutor, Aug. H. Francke, the lat- 
 ter a university town, whose great 
 seat of learning up to a few years 
 before was presided over by 
 the renown Dr. Heinrich Miiller 
 (Muhlen). Both of these cities had for some years been 
 centers of pietistic activity. 
 
 Whether Justus Falckner studied or spent any time at 
 the university at Rostock has not been determined. From 
 a document found in the library there, it is shown that he 
 spent some time in the Duchy of Schleswig, and was aided 
 and befriended by a son and namesake of the noted pie- 
 tistic theologian Dominie Heinrich Miiller (Muhlen) men- 
 tioned by Gotfried Arnold in his Kirchcn and Ketzer 
 geschtchie, and who was also a church dignitary and had 
 succeeded his father in the office as superintendent. Thence 
 young Falckner went to the adjoining Duchy of Holstein, 
 where he evidently for a time taught school or acted as 
 a private tutor. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Daniel Falckner. 
 
 ^M 
 
 X 
 
 ^^^W 
 
 ^T 
 
 ^^s^*^ 
 
 s 
 
 ^^ 
 
 "^^^w^ 
 
 y 
 
 ARMS OF PENN. 
 
 •ff 
 
 'T was about this time, 
 either late in 1698 
 or early in 1699, that his 
 elder bi other Daniel re- 
 turned to his native land 
 as an emissary from Am- 
 erica. From documents 
 lately discovered in the 
 archives of the Halle or- 
 phanage we find that the 
 elder Francke was vir- 
 tually one of the chief 
 factors in the settling of 
 the colony of German 
 Pietists on the Wissahickon, and the introduction of Ger- 
 man pietism in America, which eventually proved so pow- 
 erful a factor in upholding the orthodox Lutheran faith in 
 the Province of Pennsylvania, and we might say shaping 
 the destiny of a large part of our community. 
 
 (24) 
 
1703 MEMORIAL OF DOM. J 
 
 USTUS FALCKNER-1903. 
 
 J, r, SACMSE, PMOTO 
 
 .,„.<;<; BY OR. CHBISTOPHER WITT, 
 ,«,„ .H. 0.^^^2:7Z -TOR... SOCTV O. RH.SSV.V.S.. 
 
Daniel Falckner. 25 
 
 In view of this greatly improved condition of the relig- 
 ious situation in Pennsylvania, which, early in 1698, was 
 strengthened still more by the arrival of Rev. Thomas 
 Clayton, the first minister of the Church of England who 
 came to the Province, it was concluded by the leaders of 
 the German Pietists on the Wissahickon, partly at the sug- 
 gestion of the Swedish pastors, to send an emissary from 
 among their number to Europe to make public the true 
 state and spiritual condition of the Germans who had emi- 
 grated to Pennsylvania ; set forth the labors of the Pietis- 
 tical brethren among their countrymen in America, and 
 solicit aid and additional recruits, so that the perfect num- 
 ber of forty ^ could be kept intact, and at the same time 
 
 a^ruM uaitxn-cy 
 
 could extend their usefulness in educating and ministering 
 to their neglected countrymen in Pennsylvania and Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 Another important scheme then under consideration was 
 the emigration of the members of ^'- the Philadclfhian 
 Society " ^ in a body from England and the continent to 
 settle in Pennsylvania, and there found a colony where 
 their peculiar teachings should be their only law. Con- 
 siderable correspondence had taken place upon the subject, 
 and it was thought by Kelpius and others that the time 
 had arrived for a consummation of the scheme. It was 
 therefore desirable that a thoroughly competent person 
 
 'For a full explanation of this theory, z'/(/e " German Pietists," pp. 
 37-42- 
 
 ' Philadelphischen Societat, vide "German Pietists," p, 16. 
 
26 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
Orphanage at Halle. 27 
 
 should be sent on the mission at that time. For this im- 
 portant service Daniel Falckner was selected. He was a 
 man of strong character and practical piety, as well as the 
 executive head of the community, and, in addition to his 
 religious duties, took considerable interest in secular affairs. 
 
 Daniel Falckner, pursuant to the above arrangement, re- 
 turned to Europe, as before stated, toward the close of the 
 year 1698 or early in the spring of 1699. After a short 
 sojourn in Holland, he went to Germany to visit his old 
 associates. Upon his arrival in Saxony, he found that 
 time had wrought many changes in the condition of his 
 former companions — some had been banished, others 
 lived in obscurity, while the former leader of the local 
 Pietistical movement, August Herman Francke, now 
 posed as professor of Oriental languages at the newly 
 established University of Halle, ^ pastor of the suburb 
 Glaucha, and superintendent of an orphanage of his own 
 projection. 
 
 Upon his arrival at Halle, Daniel Falckner was cordially 
 received by the elder Francke, and installed at the orphan- 
 age, and requested to render an account of his stewardship, 
 and give authentic inforftiation of the affairs, both civil and 
 religious, in far-off Pennsylvania. 
 
 For this purpose Francke presented a number of ques- 
 tions in writing, which Daniel Falckner answered in ex- 
 tenso^ his replies covering about 197 folio pages, to which 
 he signs himself as " Citizen and Pilgrim in Pennsylvania 
 in Northern America." 
 
 8 The bicentennial of the Halle (Frederick-Wittenberg) University was 
 celebrated with great eclat, August 2, 3, 5, 1S94, the Emperor of Germany 
 being represented upon the occasion by Prince Albrecht of Prussia. The 
 present writer attended as a delegate from the Old Augustus (Trappe) 
 Church. For a full description of this Jubilee, see) The Lutheran, Phila- 
 delphia, September 6, 1894. 
 
28 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 Both of these interesting documents are still preserved 
 in the archives of the Glaucha institution, and are now be- 
 ing copied verbatum for the writer's use. 
 
 An abstract of this report was published in Germany in 
 1702 under the following title : 
 
 Curious account of Pennsylvania, in Northern-America 
 which at solicitation of good friends regarding 103 questions 
 submitted, and at his departure from Germany to above 
 
 Curieufe ^4®Crit 
 
 r>on 
 
 PENSYLVANIA 
 
 SoctJnt* America 
 
 TX?elcbe/ 
 
 9luf ^Sege^ren guterSteunbc/ 
 
 gen / bet) faner StheiO om ^euifd^ 
 
 lant) nacl) obtgem ^(xa^t Anno ijoo^ 
 
 cvtl)eilct/uni)nun Anno i702ini)cn!2)rucf 
 
 QC^cbcn tt)orbcn. 
 
 t>on 
 
 Spaniel ^alfnern/ProfcfTorc, 
 
 SSurgeni unb 5)ilgrim allba- 
 
 2u pnben 6c9 ^(nbrea^ •Otto/55u^6dnl>(eni» 
 
 FACSIMILE TITLE OF FALCKNER's DESCRIPTION OF PENNSYLVANIA, 
 
 1702. 
 
A Curious Account. 29 
 
 Country Anno 1700 are answered, and Now Anno 1702, 
 are given in print by Daniel Falckner, Professor, Citizen 
 and pilgrim there. 
 
 CONTINCIATIO 
 
 PENSYLVANl^ 
 
 AMERICiE. 
 
 Uber t>ori9t bee Jg)etm3)afiorii 
 
 Relationes« 
 
 ©(e Situation, unb grucfttbarfeft bed 
 
 5(u|fe. S)ie 2(njal)lt)evcr bi^^ero oebaiitwi ^tdbte, 
 
 iOic leltiamc (ixtatwtn an Xbicren/Bdailii uaD glftjeiu 
 
 JDie MiDcraiitn itnD (Jiif lijerteinc ©frco flngtBobrnen tsi^ 
 
 Jen©olrf«rej)rac5en/ SleUfl(onuit&®<6r(fHc&e, Un^ 
 
 GABRIEL THOMAS 
 
 «IBe(cf;em Tradcltlein noc^ bepgefuget fmb : 
 
 2)e^ 5u. OANItL F A LCKNERS 
 
 iSurgcrJl unb pilgrims in Penfylvaaia ijj^ 
 
 flutctt g^r<ant>cit. __«..^ 
 
 5roncf fiirt unb £<ipMg / 
 
^o Dominie Justus Falchier. 
 
 A somewhat extended abstract was issued two years later 
 (1704) by the same publishers, under following title : 
 
 Daniel Falckner's visit to Europe also partook somewhat 
 of a political nature, which was destined to work radical 
 changes in the civil affairs of the German township of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 His reports to Benjamin Furly at Rotterdam, and to the 
 leaders of the Frankfort Company, at Amsterdam, Liibeck, 
 and Frankfort, but confirmed the unsatisfactory rumors, 
 and dissatisfaction as to Pastorius' management of their 
 property in Pennsylvania. 
 
 This resulted in Daniel Falckner and Johann Jauert, a 
 commercial traveller, son of Balthasar Jauert,® a leading 
 
 tg<»^y,<fc>» »»» p .i 
 
 pietist of Liibeck and member of the Frankfort Company^ 
 being summoned to Frankfort-on-the-Main early in the 
 year 1700, and a power of attorney given them, together 
 with Magister Johannes Kelpius, to take charge of their 
 property and affairs in Pennsylvania. 
 
 This document was dated January 24, 1700, and was 
 signed by all of the surviving members or their assigns. |^ 
 
 From Frankfort, Daniel went to Rotterdam and in April 
 
 ^Jzr 
 
 'VU.if 
 
 'TlyLt^ 
 
 'The correct spelling of this name is Jauert, not Jawert as usually 
 spelled. 
 
Departs for America. 31 
 
 of the same year a power of attorney of like import was 
 given to him and his brother Justus, who had decided to 
 accompany his brother to Pennsylvania, on a mission hav- 
 ing for its chief object the spreading of the Gospel in the 
 " Land of Darkness " (^Abend-land). 
 
 A few weeks later we find the two brothers at the old 
 Hansastadt of Liibeck in conference with the elder Jauert, 
 and Balthasar Jaspar Konneken, a learned scholar, pietist 
 and astronomer, who had taken an active personal interest 
 in the German settlement of Pennsylvania, from the time 
 of the arrival of the first pioneers in 1683, and among whose 
 effects we find the earliest reports from the German town- 
 ship. He also wanted to join the colony of German'Tietists 
 on the Wissahickon, but was dissuaded on account of^his 
 advanced age. 
 
 Finally, toward the middle of May, quite a little party 
 of Pietists had assembled at Liibeck and set sail by way 
 of England. The white cliffs of Albion's shores were 
 lost to view on the 25th of May and the capes of^^the Dela- 
 ware were sighted early in August, after a passage of about 
 ten weeks. 
 
 BerWf te5mpff«n^e/ ^^]ttrey^m# 
 t)e/ \xx\t> tT)ic(?offfn6e an ^em 
 ilcibe 3f5ru / <io3<p(IanQte 
 tTlicBnec^t / erwartcnO mei# 
 
 tne(eil^dnl0a tn re^nU(t>^m 
 
 ©anld Sa Wher / Surgf r un& 
 
 ©ifgrim ia Pcnfyivanieti ta 
 $tot^enAmefica« 
 
 DANIEL FALCKNER's COLOPHON. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 On the Wissahickon. 
 
 H 
 
 LMOST immedi- 
 ately after the 
 return of Daniel Falck- 
 ner to the German town- 
 ship of Pennsylvania, 
 bringing his brother 
 Justus and a number of 
 Theosophists and Piet- 
 ists, a change took place 
 in the civic government 
 of the German borough. 
 In the fall of the same 
 year (1700), Daniel 
 Falckner was elected bailiff, his brother Justus a burgess, 
 Johann Jauert, recorder, and Daniel Geissler, crier of the 
 court. 
 
 At a court held at Germantown, 7th day of 9 mo., 1700, 
 
 Justus Falckner appears to have sat as one of the judges. 
 
 The cares and worriments of judicial office, together 
 
 with the strife and bickerings of the infant community, 
 
 were not congenial to our young Pietist, and all was so 
 
 (32) 
 
As a Hermit. 
 
 33 
 
 different from the ideal life he expected to find here in the 
 virgin forests of Pennsylvania, that before many weeks 
 passed we find him retiring from the world, its allurements 
 and ambitions, and installed in an humble log cabin, beside 
 a spring of clear water, on the banks of the Wissahickon, 
 passing his time as a hermit, communing with his God in 
 silent contemplation of nature, and continuing his theosophi- 
 cal studies under the tutelage of Magisters Kelpius and 
 Selig, the former secretary of the great Spener. 
 
 In addition to his esoteric and theosophical studies, dur- 
 ing his year of retirement as a recluse, Justus Falckner 
 made good his promise to Senior Ileinrich Muhlen, of 
 Schleswig, to advise him as to 
 the condition of the church in 
 America. Just how many mis- 
 sives he sent is not known. The 
 first one, however, dated German- 
 town in the American province 
 of Pennsylvania, otherwise New 
 Sweden, the ist of August, 1701, 
 was printed in Germany. A 
 single copy of this heretofore un- 
 known contribution to the his- 
 tory of our province was found 
 some years ago in the library of the University at Rostock, 
 where it was bound up with a number of other tracts. This 
 missive is not alone valuable as it sets forth the religious 
 condition of the Germans within the province at the begin- 
 ning of the eighteenth century, but it also contains a plea 
 for an organ for the Swedish Church in Philadelphia. 
 That this appeal was not in vain is shown from records 
 still extant, and which make mention, as early as 1703, of 
 *' Jonas the Organist." At the end of his year of self-im- 
 
34 Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 
 posed seclusion, we again find some record of Justus 
 Falckner in public affairs. 
 
 That there was evidently some understanding and inter- 
 course between William Penn and the Falckner brothers 
 during the former's second visit to the province, is shown 
 by several entries in Minute-book G of the Board of Prop- 
 erty of the Province of Pennsylvania, where, in a dispute 
 about some land, the Proprietary steps in and issues an 
 order in favor of Daniel Falckner.^" The next entry in the 
 same book, made 12th of nth Month, 1701, shows that 
 Penn's interest in Falckner continued during the former's 
 stay in the Province. One of Penn's last official acts prior 
 to his departure was the letter quoted in these Proceedings 
 before the Land Commission : 
 
 *' James 
 
 " Prepare a Wart' for 4,000 acres for Benjamin Furly, 
 out of which 3 Wart's for 500 acres Each for Falkner and 
 Brother and Dorthy and Brother and Sister, which recom- 
 mend to the Commiss'rs of Propriety if not done before I 
 goe. 25th 8ber., 1701. 
 
 " Willm Penn:' 
 
 According to the old minute-book " G," before quoted, 
 he appears as joint-attorney with his brother for Benjamin 
 Furly of Rotterdam, and was so acknowledged by William 
 Penn during his second visit to the Province (1699-1701). 
 In a subsequent entry, on the 19th of nth month, 1701, 
 Daniel and Justus Falckner appear as attorneys for the 
 Frankfort Land Company, and produce a patent for some 
 city property. Upon the i8th of the 12th month, 1701, 
 both brothers again figure before the Land Commissioners 
 in the interests of Benjamin Furly. At different times 
 
 '^^Pennsylvania Archives^ Second Series, vol. xix., p. 219. 
 
As an Attorney. 35 
 
 after the above entry they continue to press the claims of 
 their principals. 
 
 On 5th of 2d month, 1703, Daniel and Justus went 
 before the land commissioners, and produced a return of a 
 warrant for fifty acres of Liberty Lands surveyed to Ben- 
 jamin Furly. They also pressed a claim for a High 
 Street lot of 132-foot front. 
 
 On the 30th of the 6th month, 1703, Justus Falckner 
 appears alone before the Commissioners, and as attorney of 
 Furly produces a "return of 1000 acres in Chest'r County, 
 said to be in Pursuance of our Warr't dat. 16, 12 Mo., 
 1 701, and the Same Land appearing to be an Encroachm't 
 upon the Welch Tract within their Settlements, and 
 already granted to David Lloyd and Is. Norris, the same 
 
 HEADING OF LETTER FROM FURLY TO FALCKNER BROTHERS. 
 
 is Rejected and disapproved of, and thereupon 'Tis 
 Ordered that the Same be Certifyed by Indorsement On 
 the said Return under Ye Comm'rs hands, which is ac- 
 cordingly Done." 
 
 It is evident from the above official minute that the loss 
 to Furly of this parcel of land was not through any fault 
 of the Falckner brothers, as has been frequently stated by 
 Pastorius. The charge by the latter that they sold the 
 above land for their own use and benefit is also hereby 
 shown to be without any foundation. 
 
 The above entry is the last notice of Justus Falckner 
 
36 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 upon the official records of Pennsylvania. This attempt 
 to recover the land for its rightful owner was evidently the 
 beginning of the differences with Daniel Lloyd and Isaac 
 Norris, which ended five years later in the Sprogel con- 
 spiracy and the dispossession of Daniel Falckner. 
 
 That Justus Falckner, dur- 
 ing his sojourn in Pennsyl- 
 vania, was a man without re- 
 proach and one with exem- 
 plary piety, may be judged 
 from his subsequent career 
 and the fact that his name is 
 not even mentioned by the 
 splenetic Pastorius, who so 
 persistently villified the elder 
 brother. ^^ Just what part 
 Justus bore in the organiza- 
 tion of the Lutheran con- 
 gregation at Falckner's Swamp (New Hannover, Mont- 
 gomery County, Penna.), the first High German Lutheran 
 
 ARMS OF PASTORIUS. 
 
 " The following memorandum was found among the Frankfort papers 
 at the Pennsylvania Historical Society. It is in the handwriting of Pas- 
 torius and it shows how vindictive the deposed steward of the Company 
 was toward his successor. It is needless to say here that these charges 
 have been shown to be far from the truth, vide Dr. Schmauk's " History 
 of the Lutheran Church, 1638-1800," and Sachse's "German Pietists." 
 
 " In the afores* year 1700 at the end of the 6"' Month (August) Daniel 
 Falckner and Johannes Jawart being arrived here, began along with Johan- 
 nes Kelpius to administer the Company's affairs, to whom the s"* Pastorius 
 Delivered up the land, house, barn, stable, corn in and above ground, 
 cattle, household goods utensils &c and besides in arrears of Rents & other 
 Debts due to the Company, about 23o£ hoping they would do Business 
 with better success, than he signified to the partners in Germany, that he 
 was able or capable to do himself. But soon after Johannes Kelpius noti- 
 fied me he would not act as attorney for the s* Company, calling himself 
 Civilites Mortus. Whereupon Daniel Falkner plaid the sot, making Bone- 
 

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His Activity. 
 
 37 
 
 congregation organized in America, or how often he was 
 wont to visit the congregation or minister to his fellow coun- 
 trymen, cannot be told to a certainty ; although we have 
 no direct record of the facts, he without doubt actively sec- 
 onded his brother in organizing and ministering to the 
 German settlers on the Manatawney tract ; nor can his so- 
 journ among the Mystics on the Wissahickon be traced in 
 detail. His intercourse, however, with Kelpius, Selig, 
 and the Swedish pastors, Rudman, Biorck, Sandel and 
 Auren, is known to have been frequent and intimate. 
 
 fires of the Company's Flax in open street, giving a piece of eight to one 
 Boy to show him in his drunken Fit a house in Philad', and to another a 
 Bit to light him his pipe &c. In so much that his Fellow Attorney Johan- 
 nes Jawert affixed an advertisement on the Meeting house at Germantown, 
 that no one should pay any Rent or other Debt due to the Company unto 
 the s** Falckner. — Yea and the then Bailiff and Burgesses of the German- 
 town Corporation acquainted the s'* Company of the s"* Administration of 
 this their attorney, in a letter, which (as they afterwards did hear) Mis- 
 carried." 
 
 MONUMENT ERECTED BY PETER MINUET ON THE SHORES 
 OF THE DELAWARE A. D. 1638. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Falckner's Missive from Germantown. 
 
 M 
 
 E will now present a trans- 
 lation of Justus Falck- 
 ner's unique missive to Germany, 
 i concerning the religious condi- 
 tion of Pennsylvania in the year 
 1701." 
 
 "IMPRINT I of a MISSIVE 
 |TO Tit: Lord D. Henr. 
 Muhlen, | From Germanton in the 
 AMERI I CAN Province of Penn- 
 sylvania, otherwise I New Sweden, 
 the First of August, in the Year | of our salvation One 
 thousand, seven hundred | and one | CONCERNING the 
 condition of the CHURCHES I in AMERICA.! MDCCII." 
 
 " SHALOM. 
 
 ** Right Reverend, Most Learned, Especially 
 Honored, Lord General Superintendent. 
 
 ** In sending to Your Magnificence the present missive 
 
 '*A photo-mechanical facsimile of this unique book can be seen at the 
 rooms of the Pennsylvania Historical Society; there is also a copy in the 
 library of the writer. A copy of the original German version is printed 
 in Rev. George J. Fritschel's "Geschichte der Lutherischen Kirche in 
 Amerika." — Giitersloh, 1896. 
 
 (38) 
 
Ereinite in the Desert. 39 
 
 from such a distant part of the world, I am moved there- 
 unto partly by the recollection of the high favor and civility 
 which you extended toward me while I was in Schleswig 
 with you, prior to my departure from Holstein to America, 
 as you also were kindly disposed, by virtue of your episcopal 
 and priestly office, to extend your great ecclesiastical bene- 
 diction, and thereby to further my proposed journey to a 
 blessed purpose ; upon the other part, I am obliged thereto 
 by the express commands which you enjoined upon me at 
 sundry times, that I should correspond with you as much as 
 possible concerning the condition of the church in America ; 
 {de statu Ecclcsia^ in America). This honored command 
 emanating from the love of God, I will comply with for the 
 good of his church, and give satisfaction so far as I may : 
 therefore I will make a beginning herewith. Indeed I 
 must declare that since the time when I was there [in 
 Schleswig] I have now, God be thanked, arrived safely 
 here. This was during the past year at the beginning of 
 August, after we had sailed from England on May 25. 
 Since my arrival here, I have for many material reasons, 
 lived entirely alone in a small block-house, which I had 
 built for me, as an eremite in the desert {in Desertd). Hav- 
 ing had but slight intercourse with the people, much less 
 travelled hither and thither, and having [merely] gathered 
 information from one and the other, so I do not know the 
 particulars of the status here in every respect. 
 
 "But now, after having schooled myself a little in the 
 solitude, I begin as if from a mirror {tanquam ex s-peculd) to 
 take cognizance of one fact and the other. I have gone 
 more among the people, and subsequently have resolved to 
 give up the solitude I have thus far maintained, and, accord- 
 ing to my humble powers, to strive at least with good inten- 
 tion publicly to assist in doing and effecting good in this 
 
AQ Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 §(tt 
 Tit* iittm 
 
 ^u^ ®erntatttott / in betr ^meri 
 
 Crttttfd&Cn Province Penfylvania,fOnft No* 
 
 va succia, tmetfien Augufii, im^a^t 
 
 m\tx$^tti\i nntaufmt) ucicn^uiiDevt 
 
 unt) etnli 
 
 in SImctica bef rcflfenD* 
 
 MDCCit 
 
 TITLE-PAGE OF FALCKNER's MISSIVE TO GERMANY, 17OI. 
 
 From only known copy in the Rostock University Library. 
 
opinion of the ^takers. 41 
 
 spiritual and corporeal wilderness. So far as I am able to 
 draw conclusions concerning the condition of the churches 
 in these parts, and indeed particularly in this Province, it 
 is still pretty bad. The Aborigines or Indians, from lack 
 of sufficient good instruction, remain in their blindness and 
 barbarity, and moreover are angered at the bad living of 
 the Christians, especially at the system of trading which is 
 driven with them, and they only learn vices which they did 
 not have formerly, such as drunkenness, stealing &c. The 
 local Christian minority, however, is divided into almost 
 innumerable sects, which pre-eminently may be called sects 
 and hordes, as Quakers, Anabaptists, Naturalists, Ration- 
 alists, Independents, Sabbatarians and many others, espe 
 cially secret insinuating sects, whom one does not know 
 what to make of, but who, nevertheless, are all united in 
 these beautiful principles, if it please the Gods {si Dis 
 placet) : Do away with all good order, and live for your- 
 self as it pleases you ! The Quakers are the most numer- 
 ous, because the Governor favors this sect, and one might 
 be inclined to call this country a dissecting-room of the 
 Quakers ; for no matter how our theologians labored to 
 dissect this carcase and discover its interiors, they could 
 not do it so well as the Quakers here in this country are 
 now doing themselves. It would easily make a whole 
 tractate were I only to set forth how they, by transgress- 
 ing their own principles, shew in plain daylight the kind 
 of spirit that moves them, when they virtually scoff at the 
 foundation of such principles, and become Ishmaels of all 
 well regulated church-institutions. Uic Rhodus^ hie sal- 
 tatit. When I learn that my letters come safely into the 
 hands of Your Magnificence, I will at another time report 
 s-pecialora. The Protestant Church, however, is here 
 divided into three confessions and nations. According to 
 
42 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 the confession, the local Protestants, as they are compre- 
 hended under this name in the European Roman Empire, 
 are either of the Evangelical Lutheran, or of the Presby- 
 terian and Calvinistic Church. And as the Protestant 
 Church is here also divided into three nations, so there 
 are here an English Protestant Church and a Swedish 
 Protestant Lutheran Church ; and also persons of the Ger- 
 man nation of the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed 
 churches. About these more at another time. 
 
 " Now I will only speak somewhat of the Evangelical 
 Church of the Swedish nation, and touch upon the German 
 Evangelical Lutherans. 
 
 *'The Swedes have two church congregations: one at 
 Philadelphia, the capital of this country, and another several 
 miles therefrom on a river called Christina. They have 
 also two devout, learned and conscientious preachers, 
 among whom I know in specie the Reverend Magister 
 Rudman. He, with his colleagues, endeavours to instil the 
 true fear and knowledge of God into his hearers, who pre- 
 viously, from a lack of good instruction and church disci- 
 pline, had become rather unruly. The outward worship of 
 God is held in the Swedish language, and partly according 
 to the Swedish liturgy, so far as church ceremonies are 
 concerned. 
 
 *' The Germans, however, I have spoken of not without 
 cause as merely several Evangelical Lutheran Germans, 
 and not the German Evangelical Lutheran Church : those 
 who are destitute of altar and priest forsooth roam about in 
 this desert {scilicet qui ard Saccrdotcque desiituti, vagantur 
 >%t?f: ?w £^«(?r/tf.') a deplorable condition indeed. Moreover 
 there is here a large number of Germans who, however, 
 have partly crawled in among the different sects who use 
 the English tongue, which is first learned by all who come 
 
Recomendations . 43 
 
 here. A number are Quakers and Anabaptists ; a portion 
 are Free-thinkers and assimilate with no one. They also 
 allow their children to grow up in the same manner. In 
 short there are Germans here, and perhaps the majority, 
 who despise God's Word and all outward good order ; who 
 blaspheme the sacraments, and frightfully and publicly 
 give scandal, (for the spirit of errors and sects has here 
 erected for itself an asylum : Sfiritus enhn errorum et 
 Sectarum Asyltun sibi hie cotistitutt) ; and herein is the 
 great blame and cause of the lack of establishment of an 
 outward and visible church assembly. Then while in the 
 Theoloscia naturali omnibus hominibus connata there is as 
 it were, the first Thesis : religiosum qiiendam eultum obser- 
 vato, so it happens that when these people come here and 
 find no better outward divine service, they rather select one 
 than none at all although they are already Libertini; for 
 even Libertinism is not without its outward forms, whereby 
 it is constituted a special religion without being one. 
 
 **Now I recommend to Your Magnificence, as an intelli- 
 gent {cordateii) German Evangelical theologian, for your 
 mature consideration and reflection for God and His 
 church's sake, on account of the wretched condition of the 
 German Evangelical communities, whether with assistance 
 perhaps from some exalted hand, some establishment of an 
 Evangelical church assembly could be made in America, 
 since the Germans are now increasing rapidly. For as 
 most of the Germans are addueendi et rcdticetidi, so must 
 the means be expected to come from others ; or I will say 
 the decoy {Lock-PfeiJ'e) wherewith which the birds are to 
 be allured cannot and must not be expected to come from 
 the birds, but must be made by or for such as want to 
 entice them here. 
 
 "Both myself and my brother, who is sojourning here, 
 
44 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 keep ourselves to the Swedish church, although we under- 
 stand little or nothing of their language. We have also 
 been the means of influencing divers Germans by our ex- 
 ample, so that they now and then come to the assemblies, 
 even though they do not know the language. Still they 
 are gradually being redeemed from barbarism, and becom- 
 ing accustomed to an orderly outward service. 
 
 *' Above all one of the Swedish pastors, Magister Rud- 
 man, has offered, regardless of the diflSculty to assume the 
 German dialect {dialcctimi). For nothing less than the love 
 of God's honor he has offered to go to this trouble and now 
 and then to deliver a German address in the Swedish 
 church, until the Germans can have a church of their own, 
 together with the necessary establishment. Accordingly 
 the Germans who still love the evangelical truth, and a 
 proper outward church order, much prefer to attend {in- 
 tercsse) the Swedish churches here until they can also have 
 their divine worship in their own language as a people. 
 The means are hereby offered in a measure to spread the 
 Gospel truth in these wilds, whereby many of their brethren 
 and fellow-countrymen may be brought from wrong to 
 right, from darkness to light, and from the whirlpool of 
 sectaries to the peace and quiet of the true church. Where- 
 fore such Swedish Evangelical churches, for my humble 
 part, have best and heartfelt wishes, and I seek also and 
 pray Your Magnificence to kindly recommend, as occasion 
 offers, such churches with their ministers, to His Illustrious 
 Serene Highness and Her Highness his spouse, who is a 
 royal Swedish Princess, and also to contrive that your 
 interest may be earnestly brought to the notice of his 
 Serene Majesty of Sweden. 
 
 **I will here take occasion to mention that many others 
 besides myself, who know the ways of this land, maintain 
 
1703-MEIVlORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1903. 
 
 GLORIA DEI (OLD SWEDES), WICACOA, A. D. 1903. 
 
 AFTER ETCHING BY LUDWIG E. FABER. 
 
Pleads for an Organ. 45 
 
 that music would contribute much towards a good Christian 
 service. It would not only attract and civilize the wild 
 Indian, but it would do much good in spreading the Gospel 
 truths among the sects and others by attracting them. In- 
 strumental music is especially serviceable here. Thus a 
 well-sounding organ would perhaps prove of great profit, 
 to say nothing of the fact that the Indians would come run- 
 ning from far and near to listen to such unknown melody, 
 and upon that account might become willing to accept our 
 language and teaching, and remain with people who had 
 such agreeable things ; for they are said to come ever so 
 far to listen to one who plays even upon a reed-pipe {rohr- 
 ffeiffe) : such an extraordinary love have they for any 
 melodious and ringing sound. Now as the melancholy, 
 Saturnine stingy Quaker spirit has abolished (relegiret) all 
 such music, it would indeed be a novelty here, and tend to 
 attract many of the young people away from the Quakers 
 and sects to attend services where such music was found, 
 even against the wishes of their parents. This would 
 afford a good opportunity to show them the truth and their 
 error. 
 
 '• If such an organ-instrument [Orgel-werck) were placed 
 in the Swedish church, (for the Germans as yet have no 
 church, and the Swedish church is of a high build and 
 resonant structure) it would prove of great service to this 
 church. As the majority of the Swedes are young people, 
 and mostly live scattered in the forest, far from the churches, 
 and as we by nature are all inclined to good, and above all 
 to what may serve our souls, such as the Word of God 
 which is dead and gone, so are especially the youth ; and 
 it is so with the Swedish youth now under consideration. 
 When they have performed heavy labor for the whole 
 week, as is customary here, they would sooner rest on a 
 
A 6 Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 
 Sunday, and seek some pleasure, rather than perhaps go 
 several miles to listen to a sermon. But if there were such 
 music there, they would consider church-going as a recre- 
 ation for their senses. 
 
 " Thus does Luther of blessed memory in one place 
 highly recommend the use of the organ and sacred music 
 for this very reason, that it is serviceable, and induces 
 young and simple and, says he foolish folk, to listen unto 
 and receive God's Word. It would also prove an agree- 
 able thing for God, angels and men ; if in this solitude and 
 wilderness, which as it were struggles under so many 
 Secula^ the Lord of Hosts, with whom there is fulness of 
 joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for ever- 
 more, would be praised and honored with cymbal and 
 organ, as he hath commanded. And it may be assumed 
 that even a small organ-instrument and music in this place 
 would be acceptable to God, and prove far more useful 
 than many hundreds in Europe, where there is already a 
 superfluity of such things ; and the more common they are, 
 the more they are misused. 
 
 "If now Your Magnificence were kindly to intercede 
 with his Serene Highness and Her Highness his Consort, 
 and also with such other exalted personages with whom 
 you are held in high esteem, and present to them the bene- 
 fit to be hoped for ; I doubt not, but that something could 
 be effected. There are in Europe masters enough who 
 build such instruments, and a fine one can be secured for 
 300 or 400 thalers. Then if an experienced organist and 
 musician could be found, and a curious one who would 
 undertake so far a journey, he would be very welcome 
 here. In case this could not be, if we only had an organ, 
 some one or other might be found here who had knowl- 
 edge thereof. 
 
Colophon to Missive. 47 
 
 fi: 
 
 tw oterrier^uitDeit staler 5abctt;Knt< wan (ju A 
 emen.erfa^^tcn0^galll(lcnun^ MuCcum fintm Nt 
 
 curicux,unt|oeinen?eiU!)?ciTct^unn)Drtr/t»fctt)ii^ 
 fce^(erfe()rrtnaeneOmfei)n/tt)4rtt^ a^er mct)t/unb 
 inattf)4tte nurcinr Orgel/fomSc^te ficO cttva nocfi 
 cm obccter anDrre $ur ftnt)cn/t)fraBfffenrc()a(ftDa' 
 Don l^4ttt. 0($Ue6li^en trenn €u. Magnificenft 
 \>iei3cneigt(inttt)octen njolten/ jo (jiaute n)^rt> tit 
 tcfle addrcdc tec SBr^effr an Den ©c^ite^ifcten R<i. 
 (idcDt in Sonfcen fe^/ tDC^tn nucft tirfer gegenttJ^rtf* 
 oe §5rieffaddrcffirct tt)orDen /oDec »ieimcfet ipffRli 
 ©icfellxrfc^ontrlTere^clrgcn^ett - ^ Srtutt 
 t* f*ttef]e unt) empfcf)le Su. Magnificcnfl ^«ft 
 ©c^uO unt) tier ®nat)e ®Dttc^ ju aBen QBoBlrt* 
 gc§m / unD ver^arre 
 
 (JUCC Magnificence 
 
 Gennatttoo{nt<r Am<riani|c6<n 
 Province Pe»{yl7«iiia , fo)1(| tf)i- 
 vaSuccia.Nni. Augufti im 3abf 
 
 Julhis Fakkncrc 
 
 m(o)m 
 
 COLOPHON OF JUSTUS FALCKNER's MISSIVE TO GERMANY. 
 
48 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 *' Finally if Your Magnificence would be highly disposed 
 to answer, I believe the best address for the letter would 
 be in care of the Swedish Resident in London, through 
 whom also the present letter is addressed. Or perhaps 
 you are aware of some better opportunity. 
 
 " In conclusion I now commend YOUR MAGNIFI- 
 CENCE to the protection and grace of God to all pros- 
 perity, and remain 
 
 ♦' to YOUR MAGNIFICENCE 
 
 " GERM ANTON in the American 
 Province of Pennsylvania, otherwise New 
 Sweden, the ist. of August in the year 
 of our Salvation one thousand seven 
 hundred and one. 
 
 *' For Prayer and service 
 " most devoted, 
 
 "Justus Falckner." 
 
 GLORIA DEI A CENTURY LATER. 
 
1703-MEMORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1 903. 
 
 SACM&E, PHOT 
 
 GLORIA DEI, A. D. 1903. 
 
 INTERIOR LOOKING WEST— SHOWING ORGAN GALLERY. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Causes Which Led to the Ordination at Wicacoa. 
 
 r 
 
 >ROM the missive sent to 
 Dom. Muhlen it is shown 
 how close the intimacy was be- 
 tween the Swedish pastors and 
 Justus Falckner, our candidate for 
 holy orders, and of the interest he 
 took in the Swedish Lutheran ser- 
 vices held at Gloria Dei. The cir- 
 cumstances which brought about 
 the ordination of Justus Falckner 
 at Wicacoa are as follows : 
 Andreas Rudman, the Swedish pastor at Wicacoa, had 
 received repeated calls for help from the distressed and op- 
 pressed Lutherans, who had been without any clergyman 
 to minister to their wants for some length of time. Conse. 
 quently, after the arrival of Rev. Andreas Sandel, March 
 lO, 17O2 Magister Rudman gave their forlorn condition 
 his earnest consideration, and finding their case as bad 
 as had been represented concluded personally to take 
 
 (49) 
 
^o Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 charge of the extended mission on the Hudson and the ad- 
 joining territory. 
 
 In pursuance to this resolve he, on July 5, 1702, installed 
 Sandel as pastor of Wicacoa, and on the 19th of the same 
 month he preached his valedictory sermon. At the con- 
 clusion of the sermon he embraced the opportunity of mak- 
 ing public Auren's Sabbatarian doctrine and implored his 
 parishioners to be upon their guard and remain true to the 
 Lutheran faith according to the unaltered Augsburg Con- 
 fession. A confessional service and the Eucharist closed 
 the impressive occasion. 
 
 Early on the next day, July 20th, Rudman started for 
 New York, accompanied by Mr. Thomas, a schoolmaster 
 
 ^k^- Mccj^'^"^'^^^ 
 
 at Christ Church, who was in deacon's orders and intended 
 to sail for England to receive ordination. A number of 
 Swedes, led by pastor Sandel, Matz Keen, Peter Rambo 
 and Eric Keen, also accompanied them part of the way. 
 
 Rudman, upon his arrival in New York, at once com- 
 menced to gather up and organize the Lutherans (German, 
 Dutch and Swedish), who were scattered over so large a 
 territory, which, in addition to the embryo city and the val- 
 ley of the Hudson, included parts of Long Island and East 
 Jersey. 
 
 After Rudman was well established in his new field of 
 labor, he sent to Pennsylvania for his wife and young 
 family, and all went well until the summer of the follow- 
 ing year, when the yellow fever broke out in the citadel 
 and town. In the latter part of August Dominie Rudman 
 and his family were prostrated by the terrible scourge, 
 
Rudman^s Entry. 
 
 51 
 
^2* Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 and upon the death of his second son, Anders, he wrote 
 to Philadelphia for aid, stating that both he and his 
 daughter were stricken with the disorder. ^^ 
 
 In response to this urgent appeal. Revs. Biorck and 
 Sandel at once made arrangements to go to his assistance ; 
 but so slow were the imperfect means of communication at 
 that time, it was not until September 13th when a start was 
 made from Philadelphia to relieve the stricken pastor. 
 The party arrived in New York oil the afternoon of the 
 i6th, where they found Dominie Rudman recovering, but 
 his daughter still severely ill.^* 
 
 Dominie Rudman never entirely recovered from this 
 attack, and being of a frail constitution he realized, after 
 another year's trial, that on account of the rigor of the 
 climate he could not continue in charge during another 
 winter. In this extremity, not wishing to leave the field 
 uncovered, he bethought himself of the Falckner brothers, 
 and finding that Daniel had married and was occupied 
 with the civic affairs of the German township, he wrote 
 the younger brother a Latin letter of which the following 
 extract is translated. 
 
 "New York, September 21, 1703. 
 
 ** But only listen, I beg of you : for I am going to give 
 you some unexpected news, for you to seriously and prayer- 
 fully ponder. 
 
 "I have decided to leave this province, to dispose of 
 my affairs in Pennsylvania for some time, and to revisit 
 
 "Sandel's Diary. 
 
 ^* Sandel in his diary, notes: "Sept. 17, 1702, we went looking about 
 the town that day and saw the English Church and also the Dutch [Re- 
 formed?] both of them edifices of beauty. 
 
 Sept. 20. "To-day we went calling on all who profess the Lutheran 
 creed ; there are very few here." 
 
1703-MEMORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1903. 
 
 THIS MARBLE COVERS THF. 
 
 REMAINS 
 
 OF THE REVREND ANDREW RU DMAN 
 
 BEING SENT EITHER FROM SWEDEN. 
 
 HE FIRST FOUNDED& BUILT THIS CHURCH. 
 
 WAS A CONSTANT FAITHFUL PREACHER 
 
 inth'english.s\v^ede'S V dutch churches 
 
 ELEVEN YEAB5 IN THI§ COlIl^TREY 
 |:^WHERE HE ADVANCb fR^E PIETY, ' 
 1^ SOUND DOCTRINE ^^GOODkEX AMPLE 
 
 HE DIED. SEP- JjT-JOO 8 
 AGED 40 YEARS. 
 
 =«»." 
 
 GLORIA DEI A. D., 1903. 
 
 TOMB OF REV. ANDREAS RUDMAN IN FRONT OF CHANCEL. 
 
Receives Letter. 
 
 S3 
 
tA Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 
 Sweden. What! you ask ; are you going to desert your 
 little flock ? 
 
 "Wherefore, as I look around, no one has occurred to 
 me as a more suitable person to whom I can safely com- 
 mit my sheep than yourself. Only weigh the following 
 reasons : 
 
 "(i) The call will be plainly divine. Samuel, when 
 called of God, thought '« Shall I ask Eli " whence is this? 
 Whence can it be, unless God has imitated the voice of 
 Eli ! So, be assured, God is calHng you through me. So 
 far as I have heard from the people, all agree, and that to, 
 with great delight. 
 
 •♦(2) In Europe, you could have obtained greater and 
 more lucrative churches ; but I know that you have been 
 averse to this on account of the abandoned life of cour- 
 tiers and others. Here matters are very different ; guile 
 less scattered sheep, few, docile, obedient — thirsty and 
 famished. 
 
 '♦ (3) You seem to have been called from the womb. 
 Will you bury your talent with a good conscience ? 
 
 ♦'(4) You have dignified me with the name of 'Father,' 
 receive, therefore, the exhortation of a father. If I can 
 persuade the Ministerium, you will be initiated {sacro or- 
 dt7ii) into the ministry by our Swedish ministers. 
 
 *'If you decline, I will be compelled to leave my sheep 
 without a successor and this will be hard and difficult." 
 
 Justus Falckner for a time hesitated about accepting the 
 call, as he entertained some doubts as to the regularity of 
 such ordination. Unfortunately we have not the reply to 
 the above letter. However, in a subsequent Latin letter 
 Rudman seems to have set his doubts at rest and removed 
 all scruples from the mind of the German Pietist on the 
 Wissahickon. 
 
Dominie Abelius. 55 
 
 In his letter, dated October 4, 1703, Dominie Rudman 
 writes : 
 
 ♦'Episcopal authority for consecrating churches, ordain- 
 ing, etc., has been granted me unreservedly by the bishop, 
 especially with reference to a contingency such as this. 
 This was done previously in Pennsylvania among the 
 Swedes by Rev. Laurentius Lock," who ordaind Avelius " 
 there, etc. Besides you know that in Holland, Lutherans 
 have no bishop, and are, therefore, inducted into the min- 
 istry by the vote of the presbyters. You should have no 
 doubt whatever, therefore, concerning the fact of which I 
 assure you, that, if you prefer to be subject to his protec- 
 tion and promotion, the Bishop of Sweden, as I certainly 
 know will transmit his confirmation." 
 
 Falckner's answer to this letter was evidently his consent 
 to receive the Swedish ordination and take charge of Rud- 
 man's flock in New York under certain conditions. 
 
 "Dom. Lars, Carlson Lock (Lockenius) came to America in time of 
 Gov. Printz, about 1648, d. 1688. He served the congregation at Chris- 
 tina and Tinicum for about forty years. 
 
 "From the above note it would appear that there was a Lutheran ordi- 
 nation in Pennsylvania before that of Justus Falckner. There is, how- 
 ever, no record of any such ceremony having ever taken place. The only 
 mention of an ordination on the Delaware by another presbyter is this allu- 
 sion in Dom. Rudman's letter, which the latter evidently learned from 
 hearsay. Dom. Lock died twelve years before Rudman's arrival in Amer- 
 ica. The person to whom the allusion refers, Avelius, was a Dutch student 
 by the name of Abelius Zetskoorn, also written Selskoorn, who came to this 
 country and for a time performed divine service at Sandhook. He went to 
 Manhattan with a recommendation to the Lutheran Congregation at that 
 place. Governor General Stuyvesant, to get rid of him, sent him to Dom- 
 inie Lars Lochenius on the Delaware, where it appears that he taught 
 school, took upon himself to baptize children, and on Whitsuntide 1663 
 was permitted to preach a sermon at Tinicum. Shortly afterwards he re- 
 turned to New York, where he appears to have ministered to the Dutch 
 Lutherans and appears in the records as Dominie Abelius. Dom. Berken- 
 meyer in his list of Lutheran pastors of Manhattan mentions him as Goet- 
 water's successor. 
 
56 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 IVCi 
 
 Wife 
 
 4 
 
 
 ^^\^ 
 
 .©^'5 
 
1703-MEMORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1 903. 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE ORIGINAL CANVAS IN SWEDEN. 
 
 KKV. KKIO TOBIAfS IJIORCK. 
 
 ONE OF THE OFFICIATING MINISTERS AT ORDINATION OF JUSTUS FALCKNER. 
 
Admonition from Dominie Biorck. 57 
 
 The church council at New York, under date of Octo- 
 ber 27, 1703, wrote him to come to New York and preach 
 a trial sermon. This was followed three days later by a 
 formal call from the congregation to serve them as pastor. 
 
 Justus Falckner acknowledged both letters under date of 
 November 3, 1703, accepting the call, but refused to come 
 on and preach a trial sermon. As the congregation did 
 not insist upon the trial sermon. Dominie Rudman forth- 
 with made arrangements to sever his connection with his 
 New York charge and returned to Philadelphia to complete 
 his arrangements for the proposed ordination at Gloria Dei 
 at Wicacoa. 
 
 In the meantime, while Justus Falckner was preparing 
 himself for his new position, he received the following 
 letter from Magister Biorck, the Swedish pastor at Holy 
 Trinity Church (Wilmington). It was dated Christiana, 
 Nov. 19, 1703 : 
 
 *' Since the Omniscient has known best how to direct 
 
 your resistance and departure to a good end, and to the 
 welfare of many, as is now apparent, by permitting you, 
 indeed, to come hither to this American desert, not to carry 
 away the talent entrusted to you, but, rather, to multiply 
 it, that the Father of the household may receive his own 
 with profit, for which a desert place very frequently offers 
 the richest [reward], and, thus, you have unawares, as it 
 were fallen into that, which you had previously escaped ; 
 your departure to this province was your mission, and call- 
 ing from God. You sought a hiding-place ; but He from 
 whom no one can hide is now seeking to call thee thence. 
 Come forth then to the light and profit of the public. For 
 
58 
 
 Bommie Justus Falchier. 
 
 s: 
 
 Ii^?-i4^ %i!.r 
 
 1# f 
 
 1^ 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
 .^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^'; 
 
 
 ^. 
 
 ^. 
 
 % 
 
 u 
 
 ^r^ 
 
Admonition from Dominie Biorck. 
 
 59 
 
 nothing will be more pleasing to God, than for you to de- 
 vote your life to the common good, particularly of souls ; 
 Since one who desires to profit only himself, not only does 
 not double, much less multiply his talent, but who rather, 
 with the useless servant, digs under the earth, will, at last, 
 like him, pay a heavy penalty for his folly. We have been 
 born not for ourselves, but for others, especially for God 
 and his Church, and for which your services are needed 
 here, more than they could have been elsewhere in your 
 native land, you have been brought hither without thought 
 or intention on your part." 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 The Ordination at Gloria Dei. 
 
 MEDNESDAY, 
 November 24, 
 1703, marks the date of 
 the most noteworthy re- 
 ligious service ever held 
 within the consecrated 
 walls of the old Swedish 
 Lutheran Church, Gloria 
 Dei, at Wicacoa in Phila- 
 delphia.^^ Of the many 
 solemn and festive oc- 
 casions which have taken 
 place within these ven- 
 erable walls, both under 
 its original Evangelical Lutheran tutelage or the modern 
 Protestant Episcopal regime, not a single one has attained 
 
 "The question is frequently asked, when and what brought about the 
 transfer of the Swedish Churches on the Delaware, from the Lutheran 
 to the Protestant Episcopal fold? The change was gradual, and one of 
 
 (60) 
 
1703-MEMORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1 903. 
 
 PHOTO ey J. F. RACHse 
 
 GLORIA DEI, A. D. 1903. 
 
 SHOWING INTERIOR WITH CHANCEL. 
 
 TOMBS OF THE LUTHERAN PASTORS RUDMAN, 
 
 OYLANDER AND PARLIN ARE IN THE AISLE. 
 
Transfer of Gloria Dei. 6l 
 
 successive steps in which the language question, Swedish and English, 
 was the chief factor. 
 
 The Swedish Lutheran Church, according to the unaltered Augs- 
 burg Confession, was established on the shores of the South or Delaware 
 river as early as 1638. The colonists as an old document informs us 
 " influenced by a desire to preserve among themselves and their posterity, 
 those principles of religion in which they had been instructed in their 
 native land, erected churches at various points for the public ministration 
 of God's word." 
 
 For one hundred and twenty-nine years these churches maintained 
 themselves without any local charters or civil interference. During Pro- 
 vost Wrangel's pastorate it was, however, found that under the laws of the 
 province, they could not receive or hold any legacies or pious bequests. 
 To overcome this defect, Wrangel applied to Thomas and Richard Penn, 
 then the Proprietaries for a charter, which was granted September 25, 
 1765, under the name of the Rector, Churck Wardens and Vestrymen of the 
 Swedish Lutheran Churches of Wicaco, Kingsessing and upper Merion, 
 then the standard formulae for a church charter. 
 
 Twenty years later Rev. Dr. Collin had the charter amended, that 
 whereas, the Swedish language is almost extinct, the vestry shall in 
 future have the right to elect ministers to supply said churches provided 
 always, that the said Rector and other Ministers shall be in the Ministry 
 of the Lutheran or Protestant Episcopal Churches and hold their faith in 
 the doctrine of the same. 
 
 This change was made necessary as there was at that time no English 
 Lutheran clergymen within the State, and the services for some time had 
 been held partly or wholly in English. 
 
 In 181S the charter was again amended, giving the vestry power to sell 
 some of its landed posessions. 
 
 In all of these amendments thus far it is emphatically stated that any 
 and all ministers shall be in the ministry of the Lutheran or Protestant 
 Episcopal Churches. Dr. Collin lived until 1831, having been pastor of 
 Gloria Dei for some 45 years. Dr. Collin during his long ministry of 
 almost half a century, was always a consistent Lutheran, although at the 
 English services he was forced to permit the use of the book of Common 
 Prayer in his churches, as there were then no Lutheran Liturgical books 
 in the English language, still he never considered his congregations other 
 than orthodox Lutheran. All of his assistants subsequent to the revolu- 
 tion owed fealty to the Episcopal Church, and although the question was 
 frequently agitated among these assistants how to carry the churches over 
 bodily into the Episcopal fold, their plans were always frustrated by the ven- 
 erable Swedish shepherd. After the decease of the^old Lutheran patriarch 
 in October, 1831, however, upon the very next Sunday there was an entire 
 
62 Dorninie Justus Falckner. 
 
 the historical, romantic or religious importance of the one 
 we are now about to describe. 
 
 It is true that it was only the ordination of an humble 
 Saxon student, a German Pietist of the Halle school, as a 
 missionary pastor to labor in another province, among 
 people of a still different nationality and tongue, according 
 to the Swedish ritual, by clergymen owing fealty to the 
 Archbishop at Upsala. 
 
 We have here upon this solemn occasion a union of three 
 races, viz., German, Swede and Hollander, all combined 
 in a single object, to furnish a regularly ordained pastor as 
 missionary among the scattered Lutherans in the provinces 
 of New York and East Jersey, a territory in which the 
 Calvinist almost reigned supreme. 
 
 The historic importance of this occasion will become even 
 more apparent when we recall the fact that this was the 
 first regular ordination of an orthodox clergyman in Penn- 
 sylvania, if not in the western world of which we have any 
 authentic record. 
 
 While the names and services are long forgotten of the 
 many godly men, Lutheran and Protestant Episcopal, who 
 during the past two centuries have so faithfully served 
 within the bounds of this venerable religious landmark on 
 
 conformity to the doctrine and worship of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, and old Gloria Dei became lost to the Lutherans for time to 
 come. 
 
 In 1846 the charter was again amended, when the word Lutheran was 
 finally stricken out of the charter. 
 
 Dr. Colin's assistants were Rev. Joseph Clarkson, 17S7-92, who was the 
 first minister to be ordained by Bishop White in the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in America, and was ordained for the express purpose of serving 
 the Swedish Lutheran churches on the Delaware ; Rev. Slaytor Clay, 
 1792-1821 ; Rev. Joseph Turner; Rev. John C. Clay; Rev. James Wilt- 
 bank, 1816-20; Rev. M. B. Roche; Rev. Chas. M. Dupuy, 1S22-28; Rev. 
 Pierce Connelly, 1828-31. 
 
Ordination. 63 
 
 the banks of the Delaware, the name, history and story of 
 this humble German Pietist, Justus Falckner, the first of 
 the many saintly men to come to this Province from the 
 Halle institutions, is still kept in bright remembrance, and 
 the story of his life and labors furnishes one of the bright- 
 est pages in the religious history of New York and Penn- 
 sylvania, which are now the two greatest commonwealths 
 in the American union. 
 
 It was a solemn ceremony which was enacted upon that 
 bleak November day within the bare walls of the Swedish 
 church on the banks of the Delaware. The sacred struc- 
 ture, as yet bare and unfinished, lacked both tower and 
 side projections. The interior, with its rough walls and 
 exposed roof, earthen floors and hard benches, well matched 
 the unadorned altar within the recess in the east, separated 
 by a rude railing from the body of the church and its 
 primitive surroundings. 
 
 Upon this occasion no pealing organ, with a multitude 
 of stops and pedals, vestured choir, or elaborate music 
 made melody for the service. No long procession of robed 
 clergy, with mitred bishop surrounded by acolytes and led 
 by the cross-bearer, were present to add dignity to the scene 
 and impress the beholder with awe. 
 
 The ceremony of ordination, although simple and devoid 
 of all pomp and glitter, was none the less solemn and im- 
 pressive. This was greatly due to a number of the Theo- 
 sophical Brethren from the ridge, under the leadership of 
 Magister Johannes Kelpius, who had come down from the 
 Wissahickon to give eclat to the elevation of one of their 
 number as presbyter in the Lutheran Church. 
 
 The Theosophical Brotherhood, partly clad in the habit 
 of the German University student, others in the rough 
 pilgrim garb of unbleached homespun, occupied the front 
 
64 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 benches, while the rear of the church was filled with a 
 number of Swedes and a sprinkling of English Churchmen 
 and Dissenters. It is said that even a few Quakers and 
 Indians were attracted to the church, and enhanced the 
 picturesqueness of the scene. 
 
 The service was opened with a voluntary on the little 
 organ" in the gallery by Jonas the organist,^^ supple- 
 mented with instrumental music by the Mystics on the viol, 
 hautboy, ^^ trumpets [Posaunen) and kettle-drums [Pauken)}^ 
 After this they intoned the Anthem : 
 
 Veni Creator Spiritus. 
 
 While this was being sung, a little procession of six per- 
 sons entered the church by the west portal. First came 
 
 i^This is the earliest reference to a church organ in any Protestant 
 church in America. It is not known to a certainty just where or when 
 they obtained it. If it had been sent over from Sweden in response to the 
 appeal of Justus Falckner in his missive to Dom. Muhlen that fact would 
 undoubtedly have appeared upon the records. There is a strong probability 
 that this instrument was brought over by Kelpius and his party in 1694, 
 and that it was originally set up in the tabernacle on the Wissahickon. 
 
 The present writer has seen a letter by Kelpius in which reference is 
 made to an organ, but all trace of this paper now seems to be lost. 
 There is also an account that Dr. Witt and others of the community 
 built an organ at Germantown or Wissahickon at an early day. Among 
 the musical instruments brought over by the Brotherhood was a virginal 
 (a keyed instrument, something like a pianoforte). This afterwards re- 
 verted to the widow of Magister Zimmerman, and appears in the inventory 
 of her effects. 
 
 The first church organ introduced into Christ Church, Philadelphia, 
 was obtained in 1728 from Ludovic Christian Sprogell, who was one of 
 the survivors of the Brotherhood on the Wissahickon. 
 
 "The earliest mention of Jonas the organist is in Sandel's diary, under 
 date July 20, 1702, as one of the number that accompanied Pastor Rudman 
 part of the way on his journey to New York. 
 
 *8 Hautboy, a wind instrument, somewhat like a flute or clarionette. 
 
 " Vide Kelpius Diary, Selig, Sendschreiben and Pennsylvania Maga- 
 zine, Vol. XI, page 434. 
 
I O H O 
 
 ? 5 ; 5 5 H < 
 
 -^ i 5 > 5 o z 
 
A Solemn Procession. 65 
 
 two churchwardens, then the candidate for ordination, with 
 Rev. Andreas Sandel as sponsor'* by his side; lastly. 
 Revs. Erick Biorck and Andreas Rudman, the latter as 
 suffragan or vice-bishop.*" 
 
 As the little procession reached the chancel rail, the two 
 wardens [Eldestc) stood on either side of the railing, while 
 the suffragan and the two pastors entered within the chan- 
 cel and ranged themselves in front and at either side of the 
 altar, upon which were placed a crucifix and lighted tapers. 
 The suffragan was robed in a girdled surplice, with chas- 
 uble*' and stole, while the two assistants wore the black 
 clerical robe^^ [Schwarzc Talcr). The candidate, wearing 
 the collegiate gown of the German University, knelt before 
 the rail, upon which a chasuble "^ [chor hemd) had been 
 previously placed. 
 
 The anthem being ended, the suffragan, standing in front 
 of the altar facing the congregation, opened the services 
 proper with an invitation to prayer. Then turning to the 
 east, while all kneeled, he repeated the following invocation. 
 
 ["Almighty and everlasting God; the Father of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who himself has commanded us that we 
 shall pray for laborers in thy harvest, we pray thy un- 
 searchable mercy that thou wouldst send us right-minded 
 teachers, and give thy holy and wholesome Word into 
 their hearts and mouths, so that they without error may 
 both correctly teach and perfectly execute all thy com- 
 
 '* Sandel also acted as secretary of the Consistorium on this occasion. 
 
 *" Vide " Hallesche Nachrichten," new ed., pp. 441, 478; also W. C. 
 Berkenmejer vs. Van Dieren, J. Peter Zenger, New York, 1728. 
 
 2' This garment was not strictly a chasuble, but a white lace garment 
 similar to the Roman surplice. 
 
 "Similar to the one still worn by the Lutheran clergy. 
 
 "Also known as a " Mess-hemd," a short white garment worn over the 
 black robe when officiating at the altar. 
 
66 Dommie Justus Falckner. 
 
 mandments, in order that we being taught, exhorted, com- 
 forted and strengthened by thy holy Word, may do that 
 which is pleasing unto thee and useful to us. 
 
 ** Grant us, O Lord, thy Holy Spirit, that thy Word may 
 always remain among us ; that it may increase and bear 
 fruit, and that thy servant may with befitting courage 
 preach thy Word, so that thy holy Christian Church " 
 may be edified thereby, and may serve thee in steadfast 
 faith, and forever continue in the knowledge of thee. 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."] 
 
 The suffragan then arose and turned to the congrega- 
 tion, after which Rev. Sandel, acting as consistorial secre- 
 tary, advanced to the chancel rail and read out the name 
 of the candidate and the charge to which he was called. 
 
 The suffragan, then addressing the kneeling candidate, 
 said : " Inasmuch as you, Justus Falckner, are called to the 
 Holy office of the Ministry, and in order that you with us, 
 and we with you, may rightly understand the sacredness of 
 this calling, then let us hear the promise and the exhortation 
 of the Word of God." At this point. Rev. Biorck stepped 
 forward and read out the following parts of Scripture : 
 
 Matt, xxviii, 18-20; St. John ii, 15-17, xx, 21-23; 
 Matt. X, 32-33 ; 2 Cor. v, 17-20; Jeremiah xv, 19; Matt, 
 v, 13-16; I Tim. iv, 7-8, 12-14, ^^5 ^ Tim. ii, 15-16, 
 22-25 '■> I Peter v, 2-4. 
 
 When this reading was concluded, Vice-Bishop Rudman 
 advanced and said: "May God give you grace that you 
 may faithfully guard these sayings in your heart. May 
 they be a guide for your conversation, and remind you of 
 your responsibility. May it increase your watchfulness, 
 uphold your zeal, and now and forever consecrate you to 
 the service of Heaven. 
 
 "Literally, congregation. 
 
Induction into the Holy Office. 67 
 
 *♦ The Church of Jesus Christ expects of you that, being 
 sensible of the weight of the ministerial office, you your- 
 self shall consider the important duties which this office 
 lays upon your shoulders. The Church of Jesus Christ 
 expects of you that, in believing prayers in the name of 
 Jesus Christ, you implore God for grace and power worthily 
 to exercise it. The Church of Jesus Christ expects of you 
 that you fight a good and faithful fight, lay hold of eternal 
 life and make a good confession. Confess therefore your 
 faith before God and this congregation.'' 
 
 Sandel, as secretary, now advanced and slowly read the 
 Apostolic Creed, each word being carefully repeated by the 
 candidate before the next following one was uttered by the 
 secretary. ^'^ When this important feature of the ritual was 
 concluded the suffragan said : 
 
 " May the Lord God grant unto you grace to stand fast 
 in this faith to the end, and to strengthen those who are 
 your brethren in the faith." 
 
 Advancing to the kneeling candidate, the suffragan 
 asked the following questions : 
 
 *' Do you, Justus Falckner, declare yourself willing to 
 undertake this holy ministerial office in the name of the 
 holy Trinity ? " 
 
 To which the candidate answered a clear " Yes." 
 
 "Will you solemnly promise that this office shall be 
 worthily and rightly administered in all its parts, to the 
 glory of God and the salvation of souls ? " 
 
 Again the same clear response, "Yes." 
 
 "Will you always continue in the pure Word of God, 
 flee all false and heretical teaching, preach Jesus Christ 
 according to the Word of God, and administer the Holy 
 Sacraments according to his institution?" 
 
 ** The original states that the confession was spelled out letter for letter, 
 word for word. 
 
68 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 Response, ** I will." 
 
 *♦ Will you so regulate your life that it may be an ex- 
 ample to the faithful, and shall scandalize no one?" 
 
 The kneeling man again answered in the affirmative. 
 
 The suffragan continuing, said : 
 
 "You acknowledge therefore your obligations. You 
 have declared it to be your purpose to fulfill them. Con- 
 firm it now with your oath of office." 
 
 The obligation was then administered upon the Holy 
 Evangels by the acting secretary. ^^ 
 
 After which the suffragan continued : 
 
 '♦ May the Almighty God strengthen you and help you 
 to keep all this, and according to the power given to me in 
 God's stead by the Church, I hereby confer upon you the 
 ministerial dignity in the name of God the Father and the 
 Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen." 
 
 The candidate here again kneeled, while the Brother- 
 hood intoned, to the soft strains of instrumental music, 
 the hymn : 
 
 " Veni Sancto Spirit, 
 Reple tuorum corda fidelium." 
 
 During the singing of this hymn, the suffragan, assisted 
 by the two clergymen, invested the candidate with the 
 chasuble and stole. When this ceremony was completed 
 and the hymn sung, the suffragan repeated the Lord's 
 Prayer, while he imparted the Apostolic succession^ by 
 the laying on of hands. He then returned to the altar, 
 and said, "Let us pray." Then, turning once more to the 
 east he read the following invocation : 
 
 "O everlasting merciful God; dear heavenly Father, 
 who through thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, hast 
 
 **Text of obligation is missing. 
 
 "" This was according to tiie Swedish ritual. 
 
Invocation. 69 
 
 said unto us, the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are 
 few ; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He 
 send forth laborers into His harvest, and who by these 
 words hast made us understand that we cannot procure 
 right-minded and faithful teachers except only of thy 
 merciful hand : we pray thee therefore of our whole heart 
 that thou wouldst mercifully look upon this thy servant 
 who is now ordained to thy service and to the holy office 
 of thy Ministry, and give him thy Holy Spirit, so that he 
 may go forth under watching and be strengthened by thy 
 Word, and be able to stand fast in the fight for thy king- 
 dom, and to execute thy work, teach and reprove men 
 with all humility and learning ; in order that thy Holy 
 Gospel may continue among us pure and unadulterated, 
 and bear for us the fruit of salvation and of eternal life. 
 Through thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 
 
 Here the suffragan, turning to the kneeling postulant, 
 said: "Bow down your heart to God and receive the 
 benediction." 
 
 After this was given the impressive liturgy was at an 
 end. The Theosophists then intoned the 115th Psalm: 
 "TVI?;/ jVobis Dominie,^'' during which the little procession 
 reformed and as the last verse was sung slowly left the 
 church, and the solemn and impressive ceremonial which 
 marked the first regular ordination of a Protestant clergy- 
 man in America was at an end. 
 
 The reader may ask : Did the newly ordained pastor 
 keep his sacred ordination vows? This the sequel of our 
 sketch will show. It may, however, be permitted here to 
 say without anticipation that no more active, disinterested 
 or pious clergyman ever labored among the Germans and 
 Dutch during the trying colonial period than this same 
 Justus Falckner. 
 
tjO Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 After the ordination services were over, a diploma, such 
 as was used in the Swedish Lutheran Church at that day, 
 was filled out in due form, and laid upon the altar before 
 which the ordination had taken place, and there was signed 
 and sealed by the three officiating clergymen, after which it 
 was handed to the newly ordained presbyter. It ended thus : 
 
 *'They, indeed, who have been legitimately called to 
 this holy office, can enjoy a tranquil conscience, and re- 
 member their call not without peculiar consolation, and by 
 it, as a shield, protect themselves against all the darts of 
 adversities. In their number the most eminent and most 
 excellent Master Justus Falckner, is to be reckoned, who 
 being in due form and order inducted into Holy orders by 
 prayer and the laying on of hands, this 24th day of 
 November was set apart for the Ministry of the Church, 
 we pray God to deign to add success to the office and daily 
 to increase to the new Minister the gifts that have been 
 bestowed, to the glory of His name, the welfare of the 
 Church and his servants profit. 
 
 " Given on the day of his inauguration in the year 1703 
 at Wicaco in Pennsylvania " 
 
 Andrew Rudman, 
 formerly pastor at Wicaco, afterwards of the 
 Lutheran Church in New York, and now about 
 returning to his native land ; 
 
 Erick Biorck, 
 Pastor of the church at Christiana ; 
 
 Andrew Sandel, 
 Pastor of the Lutheran Church at Wicacoa in 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
As Dominie. 
 
 71 
 
 Thus the new dominie was sent out to minister in the 
 adjoining Provinces ; and to the Orthodox Lutheran Church 
 in Pennsylvania is due to the honor of having ordained 
 and sent out the first man, a native of Saxony, for domestic 
 missions in the western world ; who was to labor, not alone 
 among those of his own kith and kin, but among people 
 who used a European tongue foreign to his own. 
 
 
 J^ (P<4li^ 
 
 PORTRAIT OF REV. NICHOLAS COLLIN, D.D., THE LAST OF THE LONG LINE 
 OF SWEDISH MINISTERS WHO SERVED ON THE DELAWARE. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Dominie Falckner in New York. 
 
 S)' 
 
 ,OMINIE FALCK- 
 NER at once made 
 preparations to enter upon 
 his new field of labor. He 
 arrived in New York city 
 on Thursday, the second 
 of December, or just eight 
 days after his ordination. 
 After preaching on the 
 third and fourth Sundays 
 in Advent, he was accepted 
 as their regular pastor by 
 the oldest Lutheran con- 
 gregation in America. 
 Immediately upon his 
 acceptance of the charge Dominie Falckner deposited his 
 diploma of ordination among the archives of the church. 
 Unfortunately, this, together with other documents of the 
 colonial period deposited within the church, are now miss- 
 ing, and have evidently long since been lost or destroyed. 
 
 (72) 
 
In New York. 73 
 
 Possibly no document has been so diligently and per- 
 sistently sought for by historians and investigators than 
 this diploma, as its historical value to the Lutheran and 
 Protestant Episcopal Church can hardly be overestimated. 
 The search, however, seemed hopeless, although reports 
 were repeatedly made, notably by a western writer, that the 
 coveted document had been seen and in one instance se- 
 cured. Upon investigation, however, these stories proved 
 delusive. 
 
 During the past summer, however, it was the good for- 
 time of the writer to examine a number of papers, sent to 
 Holland by the New York Congregation, among which was 
 a copy of this very document in Justus Falckner's own 
 handwriting together with the correspondence which led 
 to his acceptance of the charge, also a minute account of 
 the affairs as they were during his pastorate. 
 
 DOM. falckner's NOTICE TO AMSTERDAM CONSISTORY. 
 
 One of the first official acts performed by Dominie Falck- 
 ner after his arrival in New York, was to send a report and 
 copy of his ordination to the Lutheran Consistory at Am- 
 sterdam, under whose patronage the church in New York 
 was established and to whom they looked for assistance 
 and encouragement. 
 
 While in Holland during the past summer, the writer, 
 in conversation with Rev. J. Nicum, D.D., learned that 
 in the archive room of the old Lutheran church in Am- 
 sterdam there were bundles of old papers and reports, un- 
 classified, nor even their contents known. Acting upon this 
 
^4 Dominie Justus F'alckner. 
 
 hint another visit was paid to that northern Venice, and by- 
 good fortune access was obtained to the archives of the 
 church. In wading through a mass of papers, a bundle of 
 old, yellow, time-stained folio sheets were found — they were 
 in the handwriting of Justus Falckner — the first was a copy 
 of his ordination, the second copies of the letters of Rud- 
 man and Biorck before quoted. There were also reports 
 from the congregation and other letters. 
 
 By courtesy of the clergy of the church, notably Rev. 
 Dr. P. van Wijk, Jr., and Captain A. F. P. Carstens, of 
 the corporation, photographic copies were obtained of the 
 most important papers and certified written copies of the 
 others. 
 
 A facsimile of Justus Falckner's copy of the original or- 
 dination is now for the first time presented to the American 
 reader. The writer will also state that this has since been 
 certified to as correct and authentic by the highest Lutheran 
 Episcopal authorities of Sweden. 
 
 The first record made by him in the Kercken-Boeck^ or 
 church register, shortly after his arrival sets forth the facts 
 of his call in Dutch, with a short prayer in classical Latin. 
 
 Anno Christi — 1703. ten 2' December, ben Ick Justus 
 Falckner, gebooren in Sassen in Germania tot Langen- 
 Reinsdorff onder het Ampt Zwickau, van Philadelphia hier 
 in Newyorck nae voorgaende Beroepinge, aenge komen, 
 en hebbe den derden Advents Sondagh twee Praedicatien 
 in de Lutherische Kercke allhier gehouden ; Diesglycken 
 oock den vierten Advents Sondagh : Daerop ben ick van 
 het Consistorium der Christelycken Protestantischen Luther- 
 ischen Gemeene, tot haer ordentlycke Pastor en Leraer 
 aengenomen wordten ! 
 
 [In the name of Jesus. In the year of Christ, 1703, on 
 the second of December, I Justus Falckner, born in Saxony, 
 
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His Invocation, 75 
 
 Germany, at Langen-Reinsdorff , in the district of Zwickau, 
 came to Philadelphia, thence to New York, after previous 
 invitation. On the third Sunday after advent I delivered 
 two sermons in the Lutheran Church here. I did the same 
 on the fourth Sunday after Advent. Thereupon I was re- 
 ceived by the Consistorium of the Christian Protestant Lu- 
 theran Congregation as their regular pastor and teacher.] 
 
 Then follows the invocation : 
 
 " Detis Ter Optiimcs Maximo qui tntrusit me hanc in 
 messem, adsit speciali sua gratia niihi operario abject o et ad- 
 modum injirvio, sine qua pereundum niihi est sub mole ten- 
 tationuTn^ quae me saepius obr tint. In Zb, Dominc, spcravi, 
 non sinas me conjiindi! Redde me ad vocationem meam 
 upturn; non cucurri, sed misisti^ intrusisti; interim quic- 
 quid in me inscio corrupta admiscuerit natura remitte ; da 
 veniain humiliter deprccanti, per Dominum nostrum^ into 
 meum Jesum Christum. Amen.'' 
 
 [God, the Father of all mercy, and Lord of great maj- 
 esty, who has sent me into this harvest, be with me, thy 
 lowly and ever-feeble laborer, with thy special grace, 
 without which I should perish under the burden of tempta- 
 tion which often overcomes me with its might. In thee, 
 O Lord, have I trusted ; let me not be confounded. 
 Strengthen me in my calling. I did not seek it, but thou 
 hast sent me, yea, placed me in the office. Meanwhile 
 wouldst thou grant remission for whatsoever, without my 
 knowledge, a corrupt nature has introduced within me, and 
 forgive and pardon me upon my humble supplication, 
 through our Lord, yea, my Jesus Christ. Amen.] 
 
 h. facsimile of this interestmg entry is also reproduced ; 
 it was photographed from the original by the present 
 writer. 
 
 The time when Pastor Falckner arrived in New York was 
 
tj6 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 tU, 1*^ 'vfemAnv fuA.yypM'4<^ '^i^reccJtiAi ywr ^o?n^ 
 
 ^'^^ h^>SrJy^ -hH^, 
 
 FAC-SIMILE OF JUSTUS FALCKNER's FIRST ENTRY IN THE CHURCH REGISTER AT NEW YORK. 
 
 far from being a propitious one, as the settlers were in con- 
 stant fear of attack by both sea and land.^* 
 
 The Hudson Valley from one end to the other was men- 
 aced by the enemy. All residents were forced to be con- 
 stantly prepared to defend their life and property by water 
 as well as land. 
 
 Two members of the church council, Church Warden 
 (JSldcste) Jan Hendrick and Vestryman ( Vorsteher) Pieter 
 
 **This was during the war of the Spanish succession, in which England 
 was engaged against France. 
 
Official Signature. 
 
 77 
 
 van Woglom, with whom the new pastor made his home, 
 were military officers. The former was a major of infan- 
 try, a highly respected man, who well appreciated the seri- 
 ous aspect of the general situation. 
 
 In addition to the above, Church Warden Andreas van 
 
 
 o..cn.... 
 
 A1V 
 
 OFFICIAL SIGNATURE OF DOMINIE FALCKNER. 
 
 Boskerk ; Vorsteher and Overseer {kirch-meister) Laur van 
 Boskerk ; the sacristans Hanns La Grangie and Joh. Viet, 
 with Samuel Beekman, reader and sexton, all were liable 
 to military duty when the occasion required their services. 
 
 At the other end of his ex- 
 tended territory, church af- 
 fairs were, if anything, at a 
 still lower ebb. Pastor Falck- 
 ner, upon his first visit to Al- 
 bany, found the congregation 
 there virtually disbanded. A 
 small and dilapidated house 
 was called by courtesy a 
 church, and the membership 
 scattered without officers or seal of new york, a.d. 1703. 
 organization. It was not until June, 1705, that he suc- 
 ceeded in effecting a permanent organization. 
 
 As for any regular stipend in either place, none was in 
 prospect. Church finances were at so low an ebb that bare 
 promises were not even made looking towards the pastor's 
 sustenance. A reliable account that has come down to our 
 
78 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 time informs us that the situation for a time was even worse 
 in New York than elsewhere. 
 
 Dominie Falckner must indeed have been a courageous 
 man as well as a pious one to enter upon this extended 
 field, which he eventually enlarged by serving all the Ger- 
 mans along the Hudson and in East Jersey, from the 
 Hackensack in Bergen County to the valley of the Raritan, 
 without any prospect of remuneration. Another fact to be 
 taken into consideration, and one that proves more than 
 anything else how earnest, faithful and diligent he was, is 
 that he came here an entire stranger, among people whose 
 tongue was somewhat different from his own, and in the 
 face of the direct opposition of the resident Reformed 
 
 clergy and laity, who were then 
 numerically in the majority, and 
 received their sustenance from the 
 Amsterdam Classis. 
 
 One of the first things done by 
 our pious evangelist was to issue a 
 call for a meeting at the house of 
 his landlord, of the "Protestant 
 Christian Congregation^^ adhering 
 to the unaltered Augsburg Confes- 
 sion," to take into consideration 
 the dire necessities of the church. 
 At this meeting, after some desul- 
 tory discussion, it was resolved to send out circular letters 
 asking for assistance. These letters were signed by Falck- 
 ner and the church officers. Four were sent to the 
 Swedish Lutheran brethren in the South.'" A fifth cir- 
 
 ^' Christliche Protestantischen Genteinde, der ungednderten Augsburg- 
 ischen Confession zugethan. 
 
 '"'On the Delaware River, viz., at Wicaco, Christiana and Penn's Neck 
 and Racoon in New Jersey. 
 
 OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE 
 NEW YORK CONGREGATION 
 USED BY RUDMAN AND 
 FALCKNER. 
 
1703-MEMORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER -1903. 
 
 TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1729-1784. 
 
 (after rude sketch made 
 
 FORMERLY S. W. CORNER BROADWAY AND RECTOR STREETS. 
 DEDICATED JUNE 29, 1729, BY REVS. DANIEL FALCKNER AND BEHKENMEYER. 
 
Appeals /or Aid. 79 
 
 cular was addressed personally to Magister Rudman, ask- 
 ing his intercession in their behalf with the Germans and 
 English in Pennsylvania. Still later a similar circular, 
 with special reference to the ruinous condition of the 
 church, was sent to the Dutch Lutherans on the Island of 
 St. Thomas in the West Indies. 
 
 Subsequently a sum of money was received in response 
 to this last appeal, but unfortunately with the proviso that 
 it was to be used only towards building a new church.^' 
 
 Here a new complication arose : the money was badly 
 needed for congregational purposes, and so was a new 
 church building, but during the prevailing financial strin- 
 gency there was no way of supplementing the amount 
 received so as to make it available. 
 
 In this dilemma another congregational meeting was 
 convened by Dominie Falckner at the house of Reader 
 Beekman, where it was resolved that the old building 
 should be made tenantable with moneys to be collected by 
 
 'iThe first Lutheran church in New York was built outside of the Cit- 
 adel about where Bowling Green now is. When New York came once 
 more into the possession of the Dutch, this building was razed for military 
 reasons, in lieu of which a lot was given the congregation at what is now 
 the S. W. Cor. Broadway and Rector Street extending back to the North 
 River. The first church upon this site served the congregation until i729» 
 when a new building was erected, mainly by the efforts of Daniel Falckner. 
 A rude drawing of this church has been found by the writer from which the 
 picture on the opposite page was drawn. 
 
 July 6, 1784, the congregation having substituted the German for the 
 Dutch tongue, united with the German Lutheran Church, known as the 
 Swamp congregation, and assumed the name "The Corporation of the 
 United German Lutheran Churches of New York," the services were trans- 
 ferred to the church at Frankfort and William Streets. About 1826 the 
 united congregation moved to Walker Street near Broadway. 
 
 By a special act of the legislature, passed March 29, 1866, the name 
 was changed to "The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Mat- 
 thew.'* A spacious church was secured at the N. E. Cor. of Broome and 
 Elizabeth Streets, where the congregation now worship so. 
 
8o 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 the church-wardens, while the St. Thomas funds were to 
 remain intact and be kept as the nucleus of a building 
 fund for a future church.^^ 
 
 In an old report to the Amsterdam Consistory we find 
 the following graphic description of the Lutheran church 
 as Dominie Justus Falckner found it. 
 
 " The church we fear will be demolished by the first 
 heavy storm, it is more like unto a cattle shed than a house 
 of God, only two windows are in the building, one is back 
 of the pulpit, and the other directly opposite. As the 
 church is not paved, but merely floored with loose boards, 
 some long, others short, one cannot pass through it with- 
 out stumbling." Such was the humble sanctuary as the 
 young Dominie found it ; however, he was far from being 
 discouraged, and in 1705 the following report was sent to 
 the Consistory at Amsterdam : ^ 
 
 ^'^ The second church was not built until some years after Justus Falck- 
 ner's death, and then only by the personal efforts of his brother Daniel 
 Vide page 79, supra. 
 
 MF/</e Chapter XI. 
 
 GLORiA DEI, A. D. 170O. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Report to Amsterdam. 
 
 M 
 
 New York, g^ lo, 1705. 
 E, the Pastor, Elders and 
 Deacons of the Evangeli- 
 cal Protestant Congregation still at- 
 tached to the unaltered Augsburg 
 Confession at New York and sur- 
 rounding places, wish mercy and 
 blessing in and through Christ to 
 the very Reverend, God devoted, 
 very respectable, highly learned 
 and very provident Lords, the 
 Lords Pastors, Elders and Deacons, and all worthy mem- 
 bers of the highly commendable Consistory of the Evan- 
 gelical Protestant Church attached to the unaltered Augs- 
 burg Confession, at Amsterdam. 
 
 Very Reverend, Much favored Lords, and, in Christ 
 our common Saviour, Dear brethren : 
 
 We should deserve the name of uncivil and ungrateful 
 people if we did not often refresh ourselves with the mem- 
 ory of your zeal and care for the true Evangelical Prot- 
 estant Church in this country and did not arduously apply 
 ourselves to inculcate the same in our children and descend- 
 
 (81) 
 
82 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 ants, that you and your sainted Lords Predecessors' mem- 
 ory may remain in blessing with us in this new world. It 
 is you, conjointly with your respective forefathers, who, 
 by the grace of God, have largely contributed in times past 
 by sending us godfearing learned and faithful Shepherds 
 to gather a flock into that Sheepfold over which you also 
 were appointed Shepherds by the Arch-shepherd Christ 
 Jesus. You are those faithful Stewards in the Kingdom 
 of Christ who, by supplying Laborers, have promoted 
 God's Husbandry in this wilderness. 
 
 All sheep who by this means have been saved from error 
 and perdition in this wilderness will call you blessed. The 
 wheat which through your succor and care has been gath- 
 ered into the barns of our heavenly Father, shall in the day 
 of the everlasting and infinite life not leave you hungry. 
 Isaiah 95 : 13. Blessed and consecrated hands which are 
 helpful in sowing good seed, whilst otherwise weeds and 
 thorns grow up, injuring the good soil and making neglect- 
 ful servants suffer for their Indolence, with soreness and 
 wounding of hands which were unwilling to be instru- 
 mental in nurturing those plants of the Heavenly Father. 
 
 And because we firmly believe that you still bear a 
 hearty affection towards our little Christian Congregation, 
 we, in all due Respect, will on this good occasion give you 
 briefly to understand the situation and condition of our 
 said Congregation. 
 
 It is well known to you respectively that, since the death 
 of the sainted Mr. Bernhardus Arentius, we have been 
 many years without Pastor. Hence it is that our Congre- 
 gation has become dispersed, the young people and many 
 of the older ones have gone over to the so-called Reformed 
 Sect, until, three years ago, at our request, a Swedish min- 
 ister, Mr. Andreas Rudmann from Pennsylvania, came 
 over but remained with us only a little over a year on 
 
Reports to Amsterdam. 83 
 
 account of the opportunity calling him elsewhere. He 
 did, however, not leave us until by his zeal he had per- 
 suaded another person, who had already been living for 
 some years in this country, to have himself at our formal 
 request and call appointed as our present regular Pastor. 
 He is by birth a German, from Saxony, where he studied 
 Theology, and was, according to Christian custom and 
 habit of our Evangelical Church, ordained to the holy 
 Office by the Swedish Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsyl- 
 vania, on the 24th of November 1703. He has been with 
 us now for nearly two years, and fills his office in such a 
 manner that neither we nor anyone else has anything to 
 remark on his life and work. 
 
 Our congregation here is very small, because its mem- 
 bers are dispersed far and near throughout the country ; 
 the majority of them are poor and many, especially the 
 young people, ignorant on account of the lack of Bibles, 
 Catechisms, Psalm and Hymn books, and it would be of 
 great service here to have a pamphlet in which, by means 
 of short questions and answers, the difference between the 
 Lutheran and the so-called Reformed opinions were ex- 
 posed, every point thus concluding, " Therefore the Luth- 
 eran opinion is the better one." 
 
 Notwithstanding the smallness of the salary (our present 
 Pastor is satisfied with it) it is hard and difficult to bring it 
 together. Our church-building also is very much out of 
 repair and will not long be suitable for the holy service, so 
 that we may decide to build a small new church if God 
 will move more such good hearts as our Lutheran fellow- 
 believers at St. Thomas in the West-Indies have proved to 
 be who sent us, as a beginning, three hundred pieces of 
 eight some months ago. 
 
 We are the only Dutch Lutheran Congregation in 
 America that is yet all right, and it would be a thousand 
 
84 Dotmnte Justus Falckner. 
 
 pities and unwarrantable, if it can be helped, to let this 
 single little spark be extinguished by those owls who hate 
 the light, especially since we enjoy, through the high laud- 
 able English government, every kind of Protection and 
 good-will, and because there is hope that this our congre- 
 gation, if supported only a little at first, will in this Coun- 
 try rejuvinate itself as an Eagle and be an asylum to many 
 wandering and erring souls. 
 
 We do not doubt but you will take to heart our sad con- 
 dition — the sad condition of a congregation which Christ 
 has bought with his own blood — and as a loving foster- 
 mother not deny us the breasts of your love, care and com- 
 fort. We do not pray that your abundance may serve our 
 wants, but the wants of a portion of the Body of Christ who 
 in the day of judgment will to you also say, "as ye have 
 done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have 
 done it unto me." We do not speak for ourselves and our 
 private interests, but for the Church of Christ ; we cannot 
 but obtain a hearing from such eminent sustainers of the 
 same as we know you respectively to be, and in firm con- 
 fidence hold all of you as such. Thus we commend the 
 same to the Grace, Love and Mercy of the great God and 
 our Saviour J. C. ; assuring you that with all due respect 
 and true sincerity of heart we sign and remain 
 
 Very Reverend and Much favored Lords, 
 
 Your very devoted Servants, Friends and Brethren, 
 (Signed) Justus Falckner, Past. Loci, 
 P. Bruyns, 
 
 JOHANNIS LaGRANSIE, 
 JOHANN ViELT, 
 
 JoHAN Michael ScHiJTZ,'* 
 
 PlETER WOGLOM. 
 
 "♦This Joh. Mich. Schiitz was the father-in-law of Van Dieren. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A Rare Bradford Imprint. 
 
 '^^HE Reformed Church in New 
 ^^ York was in far better finan- 
 cial condition and at first it seems 
 strange that no assistance was prof- 
 fered or vouchsafed by them to the 
 Lutherans. At this time there was 
 considerable friction in the colony 
 between the Dutch Lutheran and 
 Reformed congregations. The 
 estrangement was partly caused 
 by the orthodoxy of the Lutheran 
 pastor and his close adherence to the unaltered Augsburg 
 Confession.^* Discussions were indulged in, not only by 
 the rival pastors, but by the individual members as well, 
 and heated arguments often resulted. 
 
 To place his people in a position the better to uphold 
 their faith and controvert the arguments of the Reformed, 
 Dominie Falckner prepared a little book in the colloquial 
 style of the period, in which he attempted to fortify his 
 
 '* Vide footnote, page 78. 
 
 (85) 
 
86 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 readers by quotations from the Scriptures against what he 
 designated " Calvinistic errors." 
 
 This book, printed by William Bradford, was in the 
 low Dutch language, and was the first Orthodox Lutheran 
 text-book published in America. Falckner was the second 
 Lutheran clergyman to avail himself of the Bradford press ; 
 his predecessor having been Heinrich Bernhard Koster, 
 in 1695.^^ 
 
 The title of this work reads as follows : 
 
 ** Fundamental Instruction | upon | certain chief | promi- 
 nent articles of the | Veritable, undefiled. Beatifical | Chris- 
 tian Doctrine, | founded upon the basis of the Apostles and 
 Prophets of which | Jesus Christus | is the corner-stone, | 
 expounded in plain, but edifying | Questions and Answers. 
 I By I Justus Falckner, Saxo | Germanus, Minister of the 
 Christian | Protestant so-called Lutheran | Congregation at 
 N. York and Albany. ] Printed in New York by W. Brad- 
 fordt, I 1708. 
 
 A facsimile of this title page is reproduced upon a fol- 
 lowing page. The original is in the collection of the 
 Pennsylvania Historical Society. 
 
 In the preface, which is also in Dutch, the compiler 
 commits himself absolutely to the symbolism of the Luth- 
 eran Church, the confession of the fathers ; " which con- 
 fession," he continues, "and faith by the grace of God, 
 and the conviction of His Word and Spirit, lives also in 
 me, and shall remain there until my blissful end." 
 
 He further states that it is to be distinctly understood 
 that the contents of this book are to be taken in strict con- 
 formity with the teachings, confession and faith of the 
 Lutheran Church, to which his parents and grandparents 
 
 *6Vide Dr. Schmauk's "Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania," 1638- 
 1800, and Sachse's "German Pietists." 
 
Publishes Text-hook. 87 
 
 belonged. He continues : "Both my grandfathers, paternal 
 and maternal, as well as my father, were found worthy by 
 the grace of God to serve in the holy priesthood of his 
 aggressive church." 
 
 The body of the book consists, as before stated, of a 
 series of questions and answers. The last two pages are 
 taken up with hymns. The first, of three stanzas of ten 
 lines each, is a Dutch translation of Luther's hymn, " Wir 
 glauben all an ctncm Goti." This is followed by a hymn to 
 be sung before the sermon, which has four stanzas of four 
 lines each. The last one is a hymn of two stanzas of 
 twelve lines each. These are evidently of his own com- 
 position and without doubt are the first original hymns 
 published in the Western Hemisphere. ^^ 
 
 The whole book is remarkable for its orthodoxy, and it 
 attracted the attention of leading divines in Germany. 
 The celebrated Loscher, in his "Continuations" for 1726, 
 designates this text-book as a Com^endmm Docirtnce Anti- 
 Calviniantim. 
 
 It certainly is greatly to the credit of Dominie Falckner, 
 with his widespread field of labor, that he should have 
 found time to compile the above book. How earnestly he 
 felt for the charges under his care is shown by the fact 
 that he invited his elder brother Daniel to leave Pennsyl- 
 vania and take charge of the scattered German and Dutch 
 congregations in East Jersey. 
 
 Although the chief centers of his activity were Albany 
 and New York, we find this untiring missionary establish- 
 ing preaching stations at various widely distant points in 
 the Hudson Valley. Geographically speaking, his charge 
 was divided into two parts : one south, the other north of 
 
 '' No traces of these hymns are to be found in the older Lutheran hym- 
 nals accessible to the writer. 
 
88 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 GRONDLYCKE ONDfiRRICHT 
 
 VAia 
 
 Sckcrc Voornamc Hoofd-daclcen, <Jcr 
 Wareo> Loutenv, Saliimalbendonf 
 
 Chriftelycken Leere, 
 
 Gcgrondct op den Grondc van dc Apo- 
 fieleo CO Prophcte«» ddcr 
 
 Sefns tWXm 
 
 ic HOECK-STEEN. 
 
 IS, 
 
 Angcwcfeo In ccnvoudigc, dog ftlgtlycfe 
 
 Vragen en ^ntipoordcft^ 
 
 Door 
 
 JUSTUS FALCKNER, Sazt- 
 
 GerrjuaftuSy Miniftcr dcr Chnftclyckcfi 
 ProteAaAtfcii Gcnaemicn LKther/chcu 
 
 &c. 
 
 Pfal. 119. V. 1 04. {Co 4) n Woort mueckj n% 
 KUeek't dser»mhdtt tckaUe valfcht Wef[eiK 
 
 Gtdluckt tt Nicavr-York by W. Bradford^ig 
 i7o8 
 
 TITLE OF FIRST LUTHERAN TEXT-BOOK PRINTED IN AMERICA. ORIGINAL 
 IN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
As an American Hymnist. 89 
 
 ^ n? ?pn btrfaettf m Utop* ^f^trm : 
 gElfcff U«t m 't naiDDfn ban 0110, ^eer 
 Cngerft Wf iitntJif^jttot ato \nt. * 
 ^^ 1pe?lge©fr&, ons i« too? rl^wft Irf»e B 
 ^tof UifiiAfrB ittoiitt fti t(ma Irttj Jt • 
 ^«ct Vtj)ao?M toe? D'objm 't 1)crt inouAfe 
 Cn J?p!p tins JefB na ut» bh:tii4pi^»^ 
 
 4. ^frr> onf (2l5ot)t totpa a( tyeristtti 
 Jn Bne Pftfoenc^t 5*oprnbarrti 
 I©? biliZJenta h.ftt'Iffk t'famen, 
 XXix\vi\\ toc^ tttfl cnfr t»d' .' SImtik 
 
 T TCPer CPoUtBfB ttotito m« K'lUiib* brtlrrti 
 JTj. en fc»j(t*. J?n l?f pVf ^ dJeca tart tttk 
 w^t ons He tinert)rr>t)t leete ; 
 Cb qv rff t)t}0anM, l^rrt) fls, ^mr ^dl^ 
 SDat 0115 ute ?i!ZDoo?t)t ntrt ;» t^ f j^, 
 
 jj^icr gantff'b tbt 1^ trflLrrte» 
 C^oB, u)D ((<Ma^ ttrt *r» ^ctti^f^ 
 E>at Ijtm tort fcl^itfc ref itttB p?|F» 
 . ai oiifc Bowl nt (arm ; 
 f®at '^nB*rett warfj, Bat ftt^rteww: 
 l©at twojVrwt «4f!j, »ir f rrff iJf^iWi 
 
 1, C« ftuut o^lf tDFl' i^fr t»^ Bm ffSfe 
 JS^t tertpft flirt ^ tttt t\A^ 
 ^^afffcrm oiife HPagrU* ^ .„ 
 
 tuftt, g^Ioof, burrs', tretittfrf»*etlliftW 
 f^ff r OB0 «tD (0rrff, bis dns ttititttt kit^ 
 , ©at toi! i^p wrt «l'ffatfnt« 
 fgf |(*^otb altTpbt bw> balMje U^i 
 at^Jtoofe torrM* codi trooto^Iftt toici9 
 i SDat ff ong mtt trtbtinbt : 
 ^ bttl Uft f^ 3f armljrrtrjftan^ 
 Cfft© ••» "^tt boo? be ^*t<f^b% 
 m% ^Ip msf rM«o^ ii» iM^^ 
 
 FAC-SIMILE OF THE FIRST ORIGINAL HYMN PRINTED IN AMERICA. 
 
po Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 the Highlands of the Hudson. Falckner was wont to serve 
 the former in the summer season, and the latter during the 
 winter months. During the summer, in addition to his city 
 charge, he served the congregations at Hackensack, Rari- 
 tan, Remmerspack, Piscataway, and Elizabethtown in East 
 New Jersey. 
 
 His activity extended along the whole valley of the Hud- 
 son from New York to Albany and included Loonenburg 
 (Athens), Klickenberg, Four Mile Point, Coxsackie, Kin- 
 derhook, Calverack and Phillipsborough. Wherever Dutch 
 or German Lutherans settled there Dominie Falckner was 
 found plying his sacred calling. To the above must be 
 added the German congregations founded after the large 
 immigration had set in during the early years of Queen 
 Anne's reign, which were served in their native tongue by 
 the zealous evangelist. 
 
 This latter duty became especially onerous during the 
 absence of the German Pastor, Rev. Josua Kocherthal, and 
 his subsequent death in 17 19, when the German Lutheran 
 congregations at Quassaik, Rosenthal, Schawanggunk, 
 Langen Rack, Newtown, Tarbush, Qjieensbury, Rhine- 
 beck and Schoharie were all visited by Falckner at more 
 or less regular intervals. 
 
 Among the papers relating to the Palatines, published in 
 vol. iii. of the " Documentary History of New York," is 
 found the following notice: '•'■ Litra B. In the Books by 
 our Church,^* Fol. 28, is to be found that our then minister 
 Justus Falkenier has baptized Ao 17 10 Ye 19th April in 
 the house of one of the Trustees, of which Time he has 
 continued to serve the People there every year without any 
 Profit of the Glebe." 
 
 That these stations were not merely small hamlets or 
 
 "On Quassaik Creek in Ulster County. 
 
The Old ^lassaick Church. 
 
 91 
 
92 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 isolated farm-houses, is shown by the entries in his register, 
 as he frequently upon the same occasion baptized five, six, 
 eight, nine or ten children. A personal account of his 
 ministrations has fortunately been preserved to us in 
 Biorck's Dissertatio Gradualis, before mentioned, pub- 
 lished in Sweden, 1731. 
 
 Biorck there states: "The care of these churches [the 
 Dutch Lutheran Churches in New York] was therefore 
 [after the illness of Dominie Rudman] committed to 
 
 ANCIENT ARMS OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Magister Justus Falckner, a German, and the planting of 
 them brought forth, after some time, so plentiful a harvest 
 that seven churches successively ordained in the same way 
 might be enumerated, as Falckner intimates in a letter to 
 Magister Sandel, dated New York, September 28, 17 15. 
 " In the Jerseys, there I visit three small Lutheran con- 
 gregations ^^ living a great distance one from the other, all 
 
 '* These congregations were in Bergen County along the Hudson, and 
 evidently do not include those on the Raritan, which were ministered to 
 by his brother Daniel. 
 
Serves Seven Churches. 
 
 93 
 
 these three consist of about one hundred communicants, 
 the most poor people and poor settlers. 
 
 " In the Province of New York I serve four small Lu- 
 theran congregations, & all these four consist in all of about 
 one hundred constant communicants, besides strangers 
 going & coming in the city of N. York, so that in all I 
 have seven congregations, whom to serve I must yearly 
 travel about twelve hundred English miles." 
 
 ^rWTK'' OB'S 
 DISSERTATIO GRADUAUS, 
 
 PLANTATIONE 
 
 ECCLESIit SVECAN/E 
 
 AMERICA, 
 
 QuAki, 
 
 Suffraf^tiie ^ntpl. Senatu Phihfofh. n 
 
 Rifio Upfal. Albmto, 
 
 rR£SIDE. 
 P'IRQ Amflnjimo tlqut CcUbcmm* 
 
 Mag ANDREA 
 
 Eth. & PoliL Prof. Reg. & OrA 
 
 Id Audit. GuO. Mij. d, 14 Jun. 
 
 An. MDCCXXXI. 
 
 Examinamftm moJf/lt (i{lft 
 
 Tobias E. Biorck. 
 
 Amiricano-Dahiaklus. 
 
 UPSAtl* UiarU W«aMi»iAmt. 
 
 Biorck then adds, "Thus these men were punctual 
 enough in meeting, although scattered far and wide. 
 Moreover : 
 
 " Mr. Kocherthal resideth as yet for the most time in 
 one place on Hudson's River, but visiteth two places on 
 the other side of the river, where particular Lutheran con- 
 gregations meet. He has been as yet but once with those 
 Lutheran Palatines that live in the Mohacks' country. 
 
 "We have brought forward these things so much out 
 
p4 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 of our way, in order to make it clear that the splendor of 
 the Gospel had already shone in such various places of 
 America." 
 
 To reach these widely separated stations was a serious 
 question. No regular conveyances existed ; the only means 
 of. intercourse was either by canoe on the water courses or 
 on horseback through the almost trackless forest, unpro- 
 tected from the elements and exposed to the dangers from 
 wild beasts and a treacherous savage. Still, even these 
 dangers failed to deter this pioneer missionary from his 
 path of duty. 
 
 Great as was this widespread field of his ministrations, 
 we have records that he, in addition, found time to extend 
 his labors and spread the Gospel among the negro slaves 
 in the colony, as well as the Indians who still remained in 
 the vicinity. 
 
 SEAL OF DOMINIE JUSTUS FALCKNER ( ENLARGED). 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Falckner's Church Records. 
 
 Z' 
 
 'HE old church records and 
 registers of the vener- 
 able Trinity Lutheran Church 
 (now St. Matthew's at the cor- 
 ner of Broome and Elizabeth 
 Streets) give us the best insight 
 into the untiring energy and 
 piety of Justus Falckner. 
 
 It is indeed fortunate that 
 these records have been pre- 
 served to the present genera- 
 tion. They were saved from 
 destruction during the great 
 conflagration in 1776 by the heroism of the pastor, who 
 rescued them from the burning parsonage at the peril 
 of his life ; after which they were securely placed in the 
 cellar of the new church, and were forgotten until found 
 by chance a few years ago ; and now by the courtesy of 
 the Reverend John Henry Sieker, the pastor of the church, 
 they have been placed at the disposal of the present writer. 
 Dominie Falckner evidently considered the Church Book 
 of the New York congregation as his official register, and 
 
 (95) 
 
^6 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 copied his ministerial acts upon its pages, irrespective of 
 where they were administered. 
 
 This interesting relic had been procured some time 
 previous to the arrival of Dominie Falckner, as is shown by 
 a memorandum or two in pastor Rudman's handwriting. 
 No effort seems to have been made by the latter to keep a 
 separate record of his ministerial acts in New York, and 
 they were without doubt entered upon the records of the 
 Wicacoa church, which was his official station. 
 
 It was consequently left to Justus Falckner to open the 
 church register of the Trinity Lutheran congregation in 
 New York. This book is the oldest systematic Lutheran 
 record in America, and is in the unmistakable handwriting 
 of the pastor. 
 
 On the first page it states that " this is the Church Regis- 
 ter {Kerckeii-Boeck) of the Christian Apostolic Protestant 
 Lutheran Congregation, according to the unaltered Con- 
 fession of Augsburg, in New York, and the other thereto 
 belonging places in America." 
 
 Then follows a brief list of contents : 
 
 "An inventory of books and papers belonging to tlie Church, folio 3. 
 
 " Baptismal Record {Doop Register), folio 79a. 
 
 "Register of such persons as partook for the first time with our Chris- 
 tian Apostolic Protestant Lutheran Congregation of the Holy Sacrament, 
 folio 87^. 
 
 " Register of such as have been dismissed by the congregation, folio 109. 
 
 " Register of such as were married by the pastors of said congregation, 
 folio 145. 
 
 " Burial Register, folio 1S5. 
 
 " Register of Church Officers, folio 316. 
 
 "Justus Falckner, Saxo-Germano nf. Eccla. Orthodox Lutheran Belvic 
 Nov-Eboraci in America, Pastor." 
 
 To the historian the most interesting item on the above 
 page is the reference to an inventory of church papers, then 
 (1704) in possession of the corporation. They consisted 
 
.lii I '^ 
 
 s.^''. 
 S. 
 
 ^U 
 
 >:., 
 
 .0> 
 
 f mn ^ 
 
 
 '^t#V 
 
 
 -^. "^_ 
 
Church Book 
 
q8 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 of several bundles or packages of documents, and were 
 labelled " Church papers," Packet I., II., etc., respectively. 
 These documents have long since disappeared ; the only- 
 record of them which has came down to us being Falck- 
 ner's inventory in the Kerchen-Boeck. 
 
 Among the itemized list, Packet No. II. would be of 
 exceeding interest if it were still in existence, as it con- 
 tained among other documents, the following : 
 Item No. 5. — The congregational call of Justus Falckner. 
 " 6. — Rudmann's letter to Falckner, and Falck- 
 
 ner's reply and acceptance. 
 *' 8. — A personal report from Falckner to Rud- 
 
 mann. 
 " p. — The engrossed Diploma of ordination 
 granted to Justus Falckner, and signed 
 by the three Swedish pastors on the 
 Delaware. 
 These documents were deposited by Justus Falckner 
 with the congregation upon his acceptance of the charge. 
 A fac-simile of this diploma was given in a previous 
 chapter. 
 
 The body of the book is divided, as the table of contents 
 indicates, into six divisions. Reference has already been 
 made to Dominie Falckner's first entry and votum. 
 
 The first ministerial act recorded was a baptism admin- 
 istered in the barn of Cornelius van Boskerk at Hacken- 
 sack in East Jersey, on Monday, February 27, 1704. 
 Upon this occasion were baptized three children after a 
 full morning service. On April 17, following, which was 
 Easter Monday, Falckner baptized a daughter of Pieter A. 
 van Boskerk in the church at New York. These four 
 baptisms were entered upon the register at the same time 
 in the Low Dutch language, with the following votum : 
 
Baptismal Record. 99 
 
 "O Lord! Lord, let this child, together with the three 
 above written Hackensack Children, be and remain en- 
 grossed upon the book of life, through Jesus Christ. 
 Amen." 
 
 Almost every one of Falckner's entries closes with a 
 short prayer or vottim for the future welfare of the person 
 
 
 FACSIMILE OF EARLIEST BAPTISMAL RECORD. 
 
 mentioned ; showing the deep interest this devout shepherd 
 took in the spiritual welfare of his flock, irrespective of 
 their nationality or social position. Dutch, English, Ger- 
 man, Negro and Indian all lost their individuality with this 
 
 L.ciC. 
 
lOO 
 
 Dotninie Justus Falckner. 
 
 pious evangelist, whose only aim and object it was to ex- 
 tend the Church of Christ in the wilds of America, accord- 
 ing to the precepts of the Augsburg Confession. 
 
 The following short prayers follow the respective bap- 
 tisms during the first year of his ministration : 
 
 SECTION OF OLD MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 
 
 DURING DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER's TIME : NO. I9, CHURCH AND 
 
 PARSONAGE ; NO. 28, LOT WHERE TRINITY P. E, 
 
 CHURCH WAS BUILT. 
 
 " O God, let this child be and remain a child of salvation 
 through Christ. Amen." 
 
 ♦* Lord, let this child also remain forever within thy 
 everlasting grace and favor, through Christ. Amen." 
 
 " O God, let this child be included and remain in thy 
 eternal favor, through Christ." 
 
 *' O Lord, we commend this child unto thee, for both 
 
Baptizes English Children. 
 
 lOI 
 
 temporal and eternal welfare, through Christ. O my God, 
 may this child be and remain a member of thy kingdom of 
 grace and glory, through Christ. Amen." 
 
 The baptism of children of English parents was usually 
 recorded in the English language. 
 
 :JJ^;i-^ 
 
 SECTION OF MAP OF I74O SHOWING LOCATION OF TRINITY LUTHERAN 
 
 CHURCH DEDICATED BY DOM. DANIEL FALCKNER, JUNE 29, 1729. 
 
 13, LUTHERAN CHURCH. 12, TRINITY P. E. CHURCH. 
 
 " Baptized d. lo Octobr, 1704 in ye House of Mr. Wil- 
 liam Chambers, Richard, son of Mr. William Chambers en 
 his wife Sarah, born d. 10 ditto. 
 
 *' Bless, O Lord, this child also with everlasting happi- 
 ness, through Christ Jesus. Amen. 
 
 "Anno 1707, the i, Juni [literal transcript], being 
 Whitsunday, baptized, in our Lutheran Church at Al- 
 
I02 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 bany/" Elizabeth, young daughter of Lieutenant Richard 
 Brewer & Catherine his wife, born the ii of March of 
 this year. Godfather was Lieut : Henry Holland, God 
 mother Madam Elisabeth Weems and Mrs. Margareta 
 Kollnis. 
 
 " Grant, O Lord, that this Childt never cast away the 
 
 grace which thou has Schworn, yea given by the Covenant 
 of Baptism trough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 
 
 Among the many interesting items in the baptismal 
 register is the following : 
 
 In the year 1705 were baptized a daughter of Are of 
 Guinea, a negro, and his wife Jora, both Christian mem- 
 bers of the congregation. Falckner concludes with this 
 votum : 
 
 " Lord, merciful God, who lookest not upon the person, 
 but from whom different creatures that fear thee and do 
 right find favor, let this child be clothed in the white robe 
 
 ♦"The first Lutheran Church in Albany, fronted on Pearl Street, be- 
 tween Howard and Beaver, long since known as Centre Market. 
 
First Coynmiinicants.' 103 
 
 of innocence and righteousness, and so remain through the 
 grace of Christ, the Saviour of all mankind. Amen." 
 
 One of the most impressive incidents during Dominie 
 Falckner's pastorate in New York occurred on Easter Sun- 
 day, 1708. It was a clear, bright April day with the har- 
 bingers of spring singing in the air, and the warm sun 
 calling all vegetation once more to put on its garb of ver- 
 
 .MN'NO CHfilSTJ 
 
 RECORD OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS. 
 
 dure ; indeed a typical Paschal day, when all nature seemed 
 to rejoice. 
 
 The church was decorated with budding boughs and 
 
 spring flowers. The Paschal candles burned brightly on 
 
 either side of the crucifix upon the altar, all indicative of 
 
 he glorious resurrection to be celebrated. 
 
 It was, however, a gala day in the church independent 
 
I04 Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 
 of its being one of the most joyous festivals. The full 
 order of morning service { Hauft-gottesdcinsf) was com- 
 pleted, to the reading of the last collect, when a baptism 
 somewhat out of the ordinary course was administered. 
 The candidate was a Carolina Indian, who was a slave 
 held by Peter Woglam. 
 
 When the former first expressed a wish to become a 
 Christian, it became a question whether if he were admitted 
 to the Church he could still be held in bondage and treated 
 as a slave. The master naturally objected, in the fear that 
 he might lose his servant. The Indian, however, settled 
 the question by stating that he was willing to remain in 
 servitude in this world, provided he was assured that he 
 would be free and equal in the skies beyond. 
 
 Dominie Falckner, when he heard of the circumstances, 
 examined the Indian, found him sincere, and concluded to 
 accept him, and instructed him in the catechism and the 
 tenets of the faith. 
 
 Upon the Sunday in question, after the holy Eucharist 
 had been celebrated, the Indian slave, after having been 
 duly prepared, was called up before the altar and publicly 
 catechised in presence of the congregation by the pastor 
 and wardens. He was then asked by Dominie Falckner 
 whether he solemnly promised before the omnipotent Lord 
 and this Christian congregation that he would, after he 
 was received into the Church, continue to serve his worldly 
 master and mistress as faithfully and truly as if he were 
 yet in his benighted state. 
 
 Upon the Indian giving his solemn promise that he 
 would. Dominie Falckner proceeded to baptize him, after 
 he had driven out the spirit of evil with the ancient exor- 
 cism according to the Lutheran ritual : " Darum, du ver- 
 malcdcyter Teufcl, erkenne dcin ui'theil,, etc.^^ 
 
Stipend. 
 
 105 
 
 r 
 
 at half a farthing per diem Int. 
 
 THis Indented Bill of ¥'ifty Sh\U 
 lings^ due from the Colony 
 of New- York, to thePofsefsor there- 
 of fhall be in value equal to Money, 
 & Ihall be accordingly accepted by 
 the Treafurer ot this Colon y> for the 
 time being, inall publick Payments, 
 and for any Fund at any time in the 
 Tteafury. Dzt^d^New-Tork^the ifi 
 oiNtyvember^ *709' by order of the 
 Lieut. Governor, council & Genera! 
 Afsembly of the faid ^S'^^JV 
 
 SPECIMEN OF MONEY IN WHICH DOMINIE FALCKNER's 
 STIPEND WAS PAID. 
 
io6 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 The name given to the new convert was "Thomas 
 Christian." The ceremony closed with the invocation by 
 the Dominie: "That the Lord would henceforth cause 
 this unbelieving Thomas to become a believing Christian.^'' 
 The morning service closed with the benediction. 
 
 History is silent as to the fate of this poor Indian slave 
 who thus voluntarily embraced the Christian faith. Pre- 
 sumably he continued to serve his master and mistress, ac- 
 cording to his solemn promise, with the same fidelity as 
 before. Whether his bonds were ever relaxed, or whether 
 his subsequent treatment was worse we do not know. 
 
 A somewhat similar ceremony was performed at Albany 
 four years after the above. The convert in this instance 
 was a negro slave. The entry in the old register reads : 
 
 "Anno 1712, January 27, baptized at Loonenburg in 
 Albany, Pieter Christian, a Negro and slave of Jan van 
 Loons of Loonenburg, about thirty years of age. He has 
 promised among other things that he will hereafter, as well 
 as he has done before, faithfully serve his master and mis- 
 tress as servant. 
 
 " Grant, O God, that this black and hard Negro-heart be 
 and remain a Christian heart, and he may be numbered 
 among those who are clothed with white raiment before 
 the throne of the Lamb, through the merits of the Lamb 
 of God who bore the sins of the world. Amen." 
 
 Under date of February 28, 17 10, Dominie Falckner 
 records the baptism of Louisa Abigail, daughter of Pastor 
 Josua Kocherthal and his wife Sibylla Charlotta. 
 
 Among the many curious entries in the baptismal record, 
 the following is interesting as it illustrates the orthodoxy 
 of the Dominie. It appears that during his absence two 
 members of his church called upon the English Episcopal 
 minister, Rev. John Sharpe, to baptize their children. 
 
1703-MEMORIAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1903. 
 
 SWEDISH CHURCHES ON THE DELAWARE. 
 
 ROCKS SHOW SITE OF FORT BUILT BY MINUET 1638. THE CHURCH STOOD WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE (wiLMINGTOn). 
 MONUMENT ON SITE OF CRANEHOOK CHURCH, 1667-1699, ON BANKS OF DELAWARE, NEW EDEN PARK. 
 
Marrtage. 
 
 107 
 
 This fact evidently pained him deeply, as will be seen from 
 the appended votum : 
 
 " Nov. 30, 17 1 2. During'my absencej^Mr. John Sharpe^' 
 baptized the young daughter of Christian Streit," named, 
 Maria Magdalena, born in New York, etc. 
 
 "December 28, 1712. Also baptized by Mr. Sharpe, 
 the young daughter of Johann Phillip Tays, named Chris- 
 tine Elizabeth, born in New York, etc. 
 
 C>^15TJ.J.7JU'7. 
 
 
 
 
 FAC-SIMILE OF DOMINIE FALKNER S ENTRY OF HIS MARRIAGE. 
 
 " Lord, Lord God ! Merciful, gracious and forbearing, of 
 great mercy and consideration, which thou showest unto 
 us in a thousand ways by forgiving us our offences, tres- 
 
 "The Rev. John Sharpe, a clergyman of character and ability, was one 
 of the early clergy upon the rolls of the Society for the Propagation of 
 the Gospel in Foreign Parts. His chief station under the society was in 
 East Jersey. Prior to this he appears to have been stationed in Maryland, 
 probably under orders of the Bishop of London. (Nichols to Stubs — 
 Perry's Historical Collections, vol. iv., pp. 54, 349). But little is known 
 of this clergyman. Upon the rolls of the venerable society he is entered 
 as having been sent out in 1704, after which his career, so far as the society 
 goes, seems to be a blank, for immediately after his name and date is 
 entered " resigned." According to the above entry by Dominie Falckner, 
 he was still performing religious rites as late as 1712. Another account 
 names him as a chaplain at New York. The diary of Rev. Sharpe is now 
 in the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
 
 *2 Christian Streit, a grandson of this man was ordained to the Lutheran 
 ministry together with Muhlenberg's two younger sons, at Reading, Oc- 
 tober 25, 1770. See HaUischc Nac/i., new ed., 633. 
 
io8 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 passes and sin, let not one of the above standing names be 
 blotted out from thy book [on account of having been bap- 
 tized by a minister of a different faith], but let them be 
 therein wa-itten and remain there through Jesus Christ, thy 
 beloved Son. Amen."^^ 
 
 In the marriage record the following personal announce- 
 ment is perhaps the most interesting : 
 
 Under date May 26, 1717. " On Rogate Sunday did 
 
 Reverend William Vesey, commissary and preacher of the 
 English Church in New York, on a license of his Excel- 
 lency Robert Hunter, at the time Governor of this Province, 
 
 ^"^ Heere, Heere Goff, Barmhcrtig endc Gcnadig cnde Laiickmacdig ende 
 van grootc Ge^tadc ende Troinve, di Ghy bevjyst in duysent leeden ende 
 vergeeft misdaad., oventreedmge ende Soude, laat dock niet een van de 
 boven staandc naamen uyt u Boek uytgedelgt ivoordten, maar laat se daarin 
 geschreewen syn en blyven door Jesum Christum, uwen lieven Soon. Amen. 
 
Children. 109 
 
 Me, Justus Falkner, pastor of the Protestant Lutheran con- 
 gregation, in my house in little Queen street in New York, 
 marry and consecrate in the bonds of holy matrimony with 
 the honorable virgin, Gerritge Hardick, born in the Prov- 
 ince of New York, County Albany. 
 
 *' I leave you not, you bless me then. Amen." 
 Three children blessed this union : Anna Catherina, 
 born in New York, July 17, 1718; baptized in the church 
 on July 20 ; and Sara Justa, born at Loonenburg, May 
 5, 1720; baptized May 8; married Niclas van Hoesan, 
 December 22, 1738 ; Benedictus, a son, born April, 1723 ; 
 baptized at Calverack, April nth. 
 
 In June, 17 17, a letter of thanks was sent to the Amster- 
 dam Consistory for aid and assistance rendered the strug- 
 gling congregations in the valley of the Hudson. The 
 original document, signed by Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 and sealed with his coat of arms, is still preserved in the 
 archives of the old Lutheran Church at Amsterdam. Fol- 
 lowing is a verbatim translation : 
 
 New York, June 12, A° 17 17. 
 
 Respective Very Reverend, Reverend, God Devoted, 
 Highly and Very learned. Highly and Very Respectable, 
 Highly and Very honored Lords and Brethren in Christ. 
 
 "When one of our Brethren, by the name of Johan 
 Michael Schiitze, was in Holland on his own business last 
 year, he, from the zeal and Christian affection towards our 
 true Religion of which he is possessed, prayed your assis- 
 tance for a new church here in New York. 
 
 And you, being lilled with and rich in that true charity 
 the nature and character of which is tireless, have, in com- 
 pliance with his said prayer, presented him w^ith One hun- 
 dred Dutch Guilders. We herewith render you, in duty 
 
no Domime Justus Falckner. 
 
 bound, our heartfelt thanks for this beneficence and others 
 received from you, with the assurance that we shall take all 
 possible care to deport and show ourselves good Stewarts 
 of your charit}^ And that we shall not cease heartily to 
 wish and pray that our Emanuel may be a Shield and 
 great Reward unto you and his congregation under you ; 
 craving that we ever may have the honor to call ourselves, 
 to sign and to be 
 
 Respective, Very Reverend, Reverend, etc., Your 
 grateful, sincere and faithful Brethren, 
 
 (Signed) Justus Falckner, Past. Eccle. etc. 
 
 " PlETER WOGLOM, 
 
 " Baeren van Hooren, 
 
 " PlETER van LoPPERSE, 
 
 " Johannis Logransie, 
 
 " Charel Beckman. 
 
 Address 
 to 
 the Reverend Highly laudable 
 Consistorium and Church Council 
 of the unaltered Confession of 
 Augsburg in Amsterdam, at Amsterdam. 
 
 In the performance of the arduous duties called for by 
 his widely extended field of labor, the Dominie had but 
 little time for rest or the enjoyment of home life. Forced 
 as he was to be away from wife and babes for weeks and 
 months at a time, his lot was by no means a sinecure, and 
 to make matters worse, so beloved was he that the people, 
 wherever he happened to be, were loth to see him depart 
 for his next station, and would exact promises for a speedy 
 return. 
 
 In their attempt to secure his services, the various con- 
 gregations even went further, and provided glebe houses 
 
Visited by Dominie SandcL iii 
 
 that should be ready at all times for the pastor and his 
 family. This was the case at Loonenburg (Athens) or 
 at a place called Klinkenbergh. He also lived for a time 
 at Calverack, and other outlying points, such as Prewen- 
 haeck. 
 
 That notwithstanding his arduous duties, Dominie Falck- 
 ner still remained in touch with his clerical brethren on the 
 Delaware is shown by correspondence with them, and by 
 entries in the Diary of Pastor Andreas Sandel. The last 
 one reads : 
 
 "July 9, 1 718. I sent same day by mail a packet to 
 New York, enclosed to Pastor Falkner, to be forwarded 
 by the first vessel bound for England." This letter has 
 reference to Pastor Sandel's journey to Sweden. 
 
 In addition to Dominie Falckner's arduous and exacting 
 duties incident to his widely separated charges and scat- 
 tered congregations, a factor arose towards the close of his 
 administration, which caused him much concern. This 
 was nothing less than the attempt of one Johann Bernhard 
 Van Dieren, a tailor by trade in New York, to usurp the 
 place as pastor in some of the congregations under Dominie 
 Falckner's charge. Van Dieren claimed to have been sent 
 to New York as a pastor by Rev. Boehme, court preacher 
 at St. James, London, but had no proof of his claim. 
 
 It was not known heretofore that Dom. Falckner was in 
 any manner involved in this controversy. The finding of 
 his correspondence by the present writer throws consider- 
 able light upon this episode in our early religious history. 
 
 It appears that Dominie Falckner wrote to the Swedish 
 pastors on the Delaware for advice in this matter, a trans- 
 lation of Dominie Andreas Hesselius', the Swedish provost 
 in America, Latin opinion is here presented : " 
 
 "Translation by Rev. H. E. Jacobs, D.D. 
 
112 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 *' As to Bernhard Von Dieren I have been able to dis- 
 cover nothing except his singular zeal (would that it had 
 been more wisely directed) for serving the church which 
 he canvassed with such earnestness and such cares and 
 troubles. I only dread that much injury may result; for 
 if he be unfortunately transferred to administer affairs for 
 which he has not been fitted, he must neglect both his 
 order (?) and their duties, and corrupt those of others. If, 
 as he professes, he be actually a Lutheran, I wish, that, 
 being mindful of Luther's doctrine, he would acquiesce in 
 his words : ' Await the One who calls thee ; meanwhile, 
 be secure. ... If He (?) need thee, He will call thee. 
 No one is enriched by the word, unless one who, without 
 his wish, is called to teach.' How in every way this declar- 
 ation of Luther is harmonious with the practice of the an- 
 cient and purer church, the words of the Emperor Leo will 
 stand. The minister of the word of God ought to be so 
 free from ambition that he is to be sought for as one who 
 has to be constrained ; being asked for he retires, and 
 being invited he shrinks back. Let the necessity of mak- 
 ing an excuse be his own recommendation. Only he, is 
 worthy of the ministry who is ordained unwillingly. 
 " Such is the opinion of 
 
 " Andrew Hesselius, Pastor at 
 " Christiana and Provost of the 
 
 " Swedish Churches in Pennsylvania." 
 
 In a letter to Dominie Justus Falckner, dated 1721, on 
 the day of St. James the Apostle. 
 
 A partial account of Dom. Falckner's part in this con- 
 troversy will be found in the final chapter of this memorial. 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner's married life proved of short 
 duration. We know but little of his movements, except 
 
His Death. 113 
 
 what can be gleaned from his official entries, which show 
 that he continued to cover the whole territory of eastern 
 New York, Long Island and Staten Island. 
 
 The last entry found in his private diary, and copied into 
 the old church register by Pastor Knoll, shows that he was 
 at Phillipsburg early in September, 1723 : 
 
 " Sept. 4, 1723. Baptized at Phillipsburg " at the upper 
 mill, in the house of David Sturm, Johann Peter, born in 
 the middle of June ; ibidem, Father Pieter Hentz, mother 
 Maria, Witness Johann Birger." 
 
 After this his history becomes a blank, the only docu- 
 mentary notice being a memorandum made by Pastor Knoll 
 in the records of the Lutheran church at Newburgh : 
 " Pastor Justus Falcknenier, deceased. Anno, 1723." 
 
 According to the above record, which is no doubt correct, 
 Justus Falckner died at the early age of 51 years, after 
 having faithfully served the various congregations under 
 his charge for twenty years. 
 
 What were the circumstances of his sudden end cannot 
 be told. Whether he died alone among strangers, or amidst 
 his young family, is an unanswerable question. Not even 
 his burial place is known, nor whether he was buried with 
 the rites of the church in consecrated ground, or in some 
 unknown corner. 
 
 However, should any record be found to shed some light 
 
 "Philipsburgh or Philipsborough was a manor granted to Frederick 
 Philipse bj royal charter in 1693. The lands continued in possession of 
 the family until 1779, when they were confiscated by the state of New York. 
 The manor included the present city of Yonkers and extended some dis- 
 tance above. Its boundaries, as defined in the charter, were as follows : 
 
 " All that tract of land upon the main, bounded to the north by a rivu- 
 let called by the Indians, Meccackassin, so running southward to Nepper- 
 han, from thence to the kill Shorackkapock and to Paparinnomo, which is 
 the southernmost bounds, then to go across the country, eastward by that 
 which is commonly known bv the name of Bronx's river." 
 
114 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 upon the last hours of this devout shepherd in the fold of 
 Christ, it will no doubt show that he died in the full per- 
 formance of his duty, true to his ordination vows. 
 
 As to his family, it is known that after the father's death 
 the widow with her three young children took up her 
 abode at Loonenburg, where the latter grew up in the 
 Lutheran Church, and were confirmed and married ac- 
 cording to its ritual. 
 
 One of the last official acts recorded by Dominie Berken- 
 meyer, prior to his death in 1744, was a baptism of a second 
 son of one of his church officers — Benedictus Falckner, a 
 grandson of his immediate predecessor. 
 
 Justus Falckner is represented by all accounts as a lovely, 
 winning character, a man of excellent gifts, good educa- 
 tion, fine mind, devout, of decided Lutheran opinions, 
 active and of great endurance. In fact, he was an ideal 
 pastor, who entered into his office with the full knowledge 
 that without God's grace nothing could be accomplished. 
 As has been shown, his field of labor extended along the 
 Hudson as far north as Albany and landward to Long 
 Island and Raritan in New Jersey. 
 
 His services, nominally confined to the Dutch and Ger- 
 mans of the Lutheran faith, were extended to all, irrespec- 
 tive of creed or color, as is proved by the mention of bap- 
 tisms of both negroes and Indians from the earliest days of 
 his ministry. 
 
 Nothing could show the devout and sincere mind of 
 Justus Falckner in bolder relief than the entries of his 
 official acts in the church register, a votmn being added in 
 every case. 
 
 From the documentary evidence come to light of late, 
 and which forms the basis of the majority of these pages, 
 it is shown how the influence of the Pietists of Provincial 
 
Greatest Monumetit. 115 
 
 Pennsylvania spread beyond the bounds of that Province 
 and extended over New York and the Jerseys. No matter 
 what the immediate causes may have been that induced the 
 Falckner brothers to leave their original home in America, 
 how the factor trnie is apt to set all matters right is evi- 
 denced in the history of the elder Falckner and the contro- 
 version of the Pastorius slanders. 
 
 To the devout and pious Justus Falckner, who first came 
 to the western world as a Pietist and mystical Theosophist, 
 with the avowed intention there to prepare himself for the 
 coming of the Redeemer, history will ever point as one of 
 the most devout and sincere missionaries and brightest 
 characters in early German-American history. 
 
 Although for years almost forgotten by the present gen- 
 erations that now compose the congregations formerly 
 served by him, their very existence at the present day, after 
 the lapse of two centuries, and the fact of their still adher- 
 ing to the Lutheran faith as based upon the unaltered 
 Augsburg Confession, are his best monuments. They are 
 living memorials, far greater than either shafts of granite 
 or tablets of bronze made by the hands of man. 
 
 As a fitting close to this sketch may be quoted the con- 
 clusion of the ritual formerly used by the Theosophical 
 Brotherhood of which at one time he was a member — 
 
 " MAY GOD GRANT HIM A BLESSED 
 RESURRECTION." 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 The Van Dieren Controversy 
 
 TL' 
 
 'HAT Dominie Justus 
 Falckner had more 
 or less trouble in his ex- 
 tended field of labor, is 
 an indisputable fact. It 
 has, however, not been 
 known heretofore that 
 Falckner was in any man- 
 ner concerned in what is 
 known as the Van Dieren 
 Controversy. 
 
 From an extended frag- 
 mentary report, found 
 among the loose papers in 
 the archives of the old Lutheran church in Amsterdam, 
 we obtain a clear insight into how this controversy arose, 
 together with Dominie Falckner's action in the premises. 
 We learn how a journeyman tailor married the daughter 
 of one of the officers of the New York church, and then 
 set himself up as a preacher. We also learn much of the 
 history of the New York congregation. Unfortunately the 
 last page of this report, bearing date and signature, is miss- 
 
 (ii6) 
 
A Rare Pamphlet. 117 
 
 Ifilkm Chrijioffel Berkenmeyers 
 
 Bcdienaars des Heyligcn Euangcliums van dc 
 
 Nederduytfche Geineente 
 TE 
 
 Nieitw-Tork, Albame en daar on'trent, 
 
 Infgelyks 
 
 derParochye dcxPalatyven hy^affayk, 
 
 DB ONrES.ANDERDE A. C. TQEGEDAAN, 
 
 CETROUWE 
 
 HERDER- en WACHTER 
 
 STEM 
 
 Aande Hoog- en Nedcr-Duitfche Lutheriaaaetx 
 
 in defe Geweften, 
 
 eenftcitimig te xyn vcrtoont 
 
 tnct twte Bneven en andere Redenen Lutherfcher 'tbeologdnteH^ 
 A ANG AANDE 
 
 \ Van Dierenjche Beroep, 
 
 E N 
 
 De Henkelfche Beveftiging. 
 
 TQNimW'Tork, hy %J*eUr Zenger, h- C. MDCCXXVIII. 
 
 FAC-SIMILE OF BKRKENMEYER's PAMPHLET. ONLY KNOWN COPY IN HAR- 
 VARD LXIVERSITV LIBRARY. 
 
ii8 Dommie Justus Falckner. 
 
 ing. It is, however, undoubtedly in the handwriting of 
 Pastor Berkenmeyer, who was Falckner's immediate suc- 
 cessor, and it was his first report to the Amsterdam Con- 
 sistory upon his arrival in New York, September 22, 1725. 
 
 There appears a date, 1721, in pencil upon the first 
 page. This is correct, so far as it refers to the Latin letter 
 of Dominie Andreas Hesselius to Dominie Justus Falckner 
 which is appended to the report. 
 
 This report with the local matter left out formed the 
 basis for Berkenmeyer's controversial pamphlet printed by 
 Zenger in 1728, the title page of which we reproduce on 
 the opposite page. 
 
 William Christopher Berkenmeyers | Minister of the 
 Holy Evangels to the | Low Dutch congregation [ at | New 
 York, Albany and parts adjacent | as well as | the Parish 
 of Palatines at Qjiassayk | Addicted to the Unaltered 
 A[ugsburg] C[onfession] [Faithful pastoral and guardian 
 Call I to the High and Low Dutch Lutherans | in these 
 wilds I to be of one accord, demonstrated | by two letters 
 and other fundemantals of Lutheran Theologians | Con- 
 cerning 1 the Van Dieren Vocation | and | The Henkel Ordi- 
 nation I At New York by J. Peter Zenger, A. C. 1728. | 
 
 The writer is indebted to Pastor Van Wijk, Jr., of the 
 Amsterdam clergy for a verbatim copy of this interesting 
 document, which gives us so many new and interesting 
 historical facts concerning our early religious history. 
 
 Translation. 
 ♦WEIGHT Reverend, most learned, as also Most Noble 
 Wl\ and Illustrious Sirs, particularly our Most Kind 
 and esteemed Patrons ! 
 
 I regard it as my duty, not only to express my thanks in 
 particular to you. Right Reverend, Most Noble and most 
 
Story of Van Diercn. 119 
 
 learned Sirs, for the favors which you extended to me dur- 
 ing my sojourn in Amsterdam and after my departure, in 
 the positive assurance that God will extend his blessing to 
 each and all of you, but also to advise you of what passes 
 here, and give you an accurate account how I found the 
 condition of this congregation upon my arrival. 
 
 The contentions within the congregation and the letter 
 resulting therefrom were caused by the following con- 
 ditions : 
 
 There is a member of our congregation in the city one 
 Johann Michael Schiitz, a tailor, who gave his daughter 
 unto a man who left the needle and assumed the pastoral 
 office, over which there had been many a dispute even 
 during the lifetime of Dominie Justus Falckner, who as 
 he felt his end approaching admonished the wardens and 
 vestrymen to seek their refuge with the Right Worshipful 
 Consistory at Amsterdam. 
 
 The only obstacle in their way, however, was the heavy 
 expense, which it was impossible for them to assume. In 
 this dilemma Johannes Sybrand, who was a seafaring man, 
 volunteered, as he then stood prepared to go to England, 
 to assume the personal expenses of the Dominie, and to 
 go over to Holland to procure [a pastor] from thence, pro- 
 vided that they would supply him with a collection-book. 
 Now as they imagined that they were not risking or were 
 responsible for more than the charges on the Dominie's 
 baggage, the majority, together with the most respectable 
 members, accepted the offer with great pleasure. 
 
 However, the before-mentioned Schiitz would not con- 
 sent to anything, as he would gladly have seen a different 
 course taken in regard to his son-in-law, who was then at 
 Schohari. Albeit he did not permit himself to say or do 
 anything until an answer was received from your Right 
 
I20 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 Worshipful Consistory, stating that, without an}'^ previous 
 consent or authority of the congregations concerned, one 
 would hardly consent to come over ; furthermore that 
 nearly all here had lost all courage. 
 
 These facts Schiitz made use of, and not only induced 
 one of the Kerkenmeister, Andreas Van Buskerke (who was 
 one of the signers of the call procui'atum to Amsterdam) 
 together with the latter's brother and son, who live in the 
 country, to sign the contradictory missive, but also induced 
 Johann Jacob Bos and Michael Peper to do the same. 
 
 Now if we except Johann Michael Schiitz as the author 
 and his son J. H. Schiitz, all the remaining signers to 
 the missive are either persons who have already severed 
 themselves from our holy religion, as Godfried Heyns and 
 Johann David Koning, or such as only join in our commun- 
 ion as strangers, like Fridiricus Boolt and Uldrig Zimmer- 
 diinger ; or such as are scattered about the country far and 
 near, like Joh. Jacob Huttrot, Joh. C. Muller, and A. Beem, 
 who has since returned to Newburg. Others are not even 
 known here by name. Further, of all the rest or at least 
 not a single one of them (excepting the three Van Bos- 
 kerkes and Joh. Michael Schiitz, who formerly served as 
 a deacon, and once upon a time, about the year 1713, took 
 upon himself to collect money in Amsterdam, whereof he 
 delivered fifteen Pounds to the church after a lapse of three 
 years), ever gave a single penny toward the church during 
 their whole lifetime. 
 
 Yea, it even came to pass, after a brother of the Van 
 Boskerkes, who hailed from Hackensack, had extended a 
 call thence to this Van Dieren and permitted him occasion- 
 ally to preach in their dwelling houses, that he preached 
 once in our church, but only with the consent, forcibly 
 obtained, from both the p. t. deacons Lagrannie and 
 
II!!:!!!!!^^!^!^- ''^'^^ ^ALCKNER-,903. 
 
 SWEDISH CHURCHES ON THE np, .. 
 ST. GEORGE-S PENN-S NECK N J n. ^^''^^ARE. 
 "^ECK, N. J.. ORGANIZED I714. 
 
Appeal to Amsterda^n. 121 
 
 Beekmann. Upon the next occasion, however, these offi- 
 cers took possession of the pulpit {pn'ester Stuhl) and 
 barred the way to the chancel. 
 
 They even threatened to commit murder and force our 
 houses and church, if this were not opened unto them. 
 Their aim however was merely to obtain possession of the 
 strong box of the Church. Consequently the statement, 
 as made in their missive, that Johann Van Dieren was 
 called unanimously and by general consent, is fictitious. 
 
 The rest of the congregation as a dcrnic)' rcssort have 
 resolved, in case the Right Reverend Consistory at Am- 
 sterdam w^ould not favor them, to extend a call to the 
 brother of the sainted Falckner, although his own brother 
 would not counsel them to do this before they took up with 
 Van Dieren. 
 
 And now about the ungodly missive, they knew noth- 
 ing at all of it, until they were informed by a good 
 friend, who knew about the correspondence of the Consis- 
 tory, that Schiitz lied to them when stating that the mis- 
 sive had not been sent, and that he regretted that the 
 letter had fallen into such loyal hands. Otherwise the 
 missive would have been his, even if it had cost him fifty 
 pounds. 
 
 The whole congregation accordingl}'^ consists of from ten 
 to twelve households, which upon the male or female side 
 are of the reformed faith. Of the remaining number who 
 reside in the town, many for several years have failed 
 to adhere to our church, as they either objected to the 
 preacher or had some other absurd reason. Others again 
 were angered at the bad condition of our church, and be- 
 came of a different mind. And of all these, thus far but 
 a single household hath returned. 
 
 Now as I arrived here, both friends and enemies — if I 
 
122 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 may so call them — became disheartened; the former, as 
 they were greatly weakened, by the defection of the Van 
 Buskerkes, who were the wealthiest among the congrega- 
 tion ; the latter, because they realized that their scheme 
 had virtually turned out Archilochian. In the meantime 
 it was resolved to say nothing about that missive, if the 
 opposite party made no demand for it. In fact no one 
 here demanded either to see or read the letter. 
 
 The Church Council thereupon convened a meeting, 
 together with all the above-named members of our con- 
 gregation, whereat I had no sooner presented my letters 
 than Andreas Van Buskerken arose and extended his hand 
 to me. In this he was followed by all present, Joh. 
 Michael Schiitze being the last one. 
 
 The answering of the letters from the Right Rev. Con- 
 sistory was consigned to me, and it was afterwards resolved 
 to send the answers in their present form. 
 
 If your Right Reverend and Most Noble Society will 
 permit, I will now describe the several conditions of my 
 Congregation. As before stated in numbers our Congre- 
 gation is but few, and several among them live over two 
 German miles from the town. The Church hath no income 
 except that of the purse with the bell {Klingel Beiitel). 
 The monies sent from St. Thomas over fifteen years ago 
 were, as I learn, put out at interest, which goes toward the 
 pastor's salary, and if this is not sufficient, the deficiency 
 is collected and supplied ostiantini [collected from door 
 to door] . Further there are no accidentia^ such as mar- 
 riages or funeral sermons, as these hardly occur once in 
 many years. 
 
 The church, which we fear will be demolished by the 
 first heavy storm, is more like unto a cattle shed than a 
 house of God : only two windows are in the building, one 
 
A Dilapidated Church, 123 
 
 behind the pulpit and the other directly opposite. As the 
 church is not paved, but merely floored with loose boards — 
 some long, others short — one cannot pass through it with- 
 out stumbling. 
 
 The preparations for divine worship are so bad, that I 
 doubt whether greater confusion exists in any heathen 
 temple. 
 
 The people are not capable of singing a hymn properly, 
 and upon several occasions they have stuck in the middle of 
 a hymn, and I have had to go thus to the altar or ascend 
 the pulpit, although I permit the precentor to sing whatever 
 he likes, and what they have been accustomed to sing. 
 And now if the seventy-three-year-old one dies, they will 
 have no one in the congregation who is capable of acting as 
 reader. 
 
 The £i7.ios promised me in the contract, I have just re- 
 ceived, as I am preparing to start for Albany. For the time 
 that I have served here they give me nothing. The same 
 sum was promised me on the part of the Albanians, but to 
 facilitate their communion they have also gotten rid of their 
 promise, although they said they would give it to me, as I 
 offered to repay the 41 Holland florins and 57 English shill- 
 ings advanced to me by Joh. Sybrand. This, however, 
 they would not permit, as I had used the money to purchase 
 a cloak and necessary household furniture. Accordingly 
 I did not want to take this sum from them, nor press for 
 any salary for the short time, though I think that I shall 
 receive my bodily food and sustenance from them, and with 
 this I suppose I shall have to content myself. God grant 
 that his blessing may rest upon my efforts to build up this 
 congregation, and may it be a joy unto me, even if not 
 fully in time, yet in eternity. 
 
 I further pray that your Right Worshipful Consistory 
 
124 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 will aid and assist me with good advice and material help, 
 as they perceive that it is for God's glory and the mainte- 
 nance of Evangelical truth in these lands. 
 
 I have found here a folio Bible, also a church liturgy, 
 which I take with me to Albany, for I surmise that, as there 
 is no public church there, neither shall I find any of these 
 books there. I trust that I shall not commit any wrong if 
 I take my books along, or rather the local church books, 
 and distribute them, just as I have done with those given 
 me by the Rt. Worshipful Consistory of Amsterdam, to- 
 gether with those bought at Hamburg with the collection 
 money. 
 
 Otherwise there is a universal complaint about the 
 scarcity of hymn-books, catechisms and Bibles. Nearly 
 all the last-named that we have here are those sent by the 
 Rt. Worshipful Consistory of Amsterdam and contain the 
 name of the Rt. Rev. J. Wesling. They know little of 
 catechisms ; Bibles are found with the older families ; but 
 the new families have to borrow one from another. 
 
 About Joh. J. Van Dieren I cannot report much that is 
 creditable. That he not only wrought as a tailor in Eng- 
 land, but also here in New York, and that the spirit of 
 fanaticism had already manifested itself in him in England, 
 is attested by Mr. Schley dorn who knew him there. Here 
 he was no less under this influence, and not only acted as 
 being in the church, but at divers times cried out aloud in 
 his workshop in the basement, and claimed to be holding a 
 conversation with God. He made the woman, in whose 
 house he lived, believe that he wanted to marry her daugh- 
 ter, but that God would not give his consent. 
 
 The name of Jesus the crucified served him for many 
 purposes. In his complimentary greeting to me he made 
 use of the name no less than ten times, as also the word 
 "Christ." 
 
Ignorance of Van Dieren, 125 
 
 Thereby every man, like unto David, will recognize how 
 good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in 
 unity. 
 
 Thus do I find in a letter written by him March 7, 1721, 
 to one in Schohari whom he thanks for his kind greeting, 
 but complains that he was so cold during the past winter. 
 In this letter he makes use of the name of Jesus seven 
 times, twice of Jesus Christ, and once where he calls him 
 our heavenly prince. 
 
 As to the cold he experienced, this he says was a suffer- 
 ing for the sake of Jesus' name. He, however, consoles 
 himself with the example set by Jesus, the warm love of 
 Jesus and the great glory of heaven. The beginning is 
 thus: ''''As it is only expressed in Holy Writ: 'Jesus to 
 greet you, the Holy Spirit as a kiss.'" He closes with 
 these words : 
 
 " I greet you with the kiss of the love of Jesus, and 
 greet me therewith, that we may all be brethren and sisters 
 in Christ Jesus, who do not live according to the flesh, but 
 according to the Holy Spirit. This greeting from me, 
 with the kiss of Jesus Christ. The love of God be with 
 them all. Amen." 
 
 That at this time he was still tailoring is shown by a foot- 
 note, wherein he writes: *'This winter I have still earned 
 pretty well." 
 
 The sainted Falckner characterizes him thus (/;/ Littcris 
 ad eundcni exaratis): " In him we find great craftiness in 
 place of Christian prudence ; great obstinacy in place of 
 humble joyfulness. To prove this I will not give myself any 
 trouble." 
 
 So much I learn from the correspondence of that sainted 
 man, that this fraedicam applied to him is true : that he is 
 an arch-icjnoramus, who neither knows how to write Ger- 
 
126 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 man — nor to spell correctly, even though he defends him- 
 self with the statement that the apostles of the Lord were 
 fishermen and uneducated persons. As he was asked if 
 he understood Latin, he took the proffered book and said : 
 
 " God be thanked, this I understand, the beautiful Latin." 
 
 When he attempted a syncretical signature, taking that 
 of Dominie Falckner as an example, he wrote thus : 
 
 " Johann Bernhard van Dieren -paster Ecclie Jesti Christi 
 et L,tithera." 
 
 The above letter is from his correspondence with the 
 congregation in Schohari which had waited so long for a 
 pastor from England, who, although ordained in London 
 by the Rev. Consistorial Privy Counsellor Mentzer, im- 
 mediately afterwards, ab crimine dicto soldo, had to run 
 away, and later committed suicide by hanging in Holstein. 
 
 Thereby he appears to have paved his way to the min- 
 istry. Thus I find two letters from Schohari in the year 
 1721, dated May 21 and 26 — Herein they report to 
 Dom. Falckner that they are informed that a High Ger- 
 man pastor for them has arrived in New York. Further 
 that he has already delivered a sermon there, which 
 pleased them well. From the above it is surmised that he 
 [Van Dieren] was the C07iscripicnt, and notwithstanding 
 that three signatures appear to each letter, they do not ap- 
 pear to conform or to be by the same hands. They further 
 state that when he was asked who had sent him to them, 
 the reply was that it was Dom. Boehme in England. They 
 also had heard that he was a tailor, but they did not mind 
 this, provided Dominie Falckner would examine and ordain 
 him. The most remarkable thing about this matter is that 
 Dominie Falckner should have taken any personal interest 
 in furthering this matter. 
 
 I also find two Latin letters dated July 3, 172 1 — one from 
 
opposition of Swedish Pastors. 127 
 
 Jonas Lidman Praepositus Wicacoa, in Philadelphia ; 
 the other from Andr. Hesselius pastor at Christiana, also 
 in Pennsylvania, by which it is shown that the said Falck- 
 ner interested himself for Van Dieren, so that he might 
 be ordained by the three Swedish pastors. 
 
 The latter sent a prolix and solid letter in contrarium^ 
 from which I enclose an extract which treats particularly 
 of Van Dieren's application/" 
 
 Upon the failure of this scheme, he went to a Palatine 
 preacher in Pennsylvania^^ (if this be true) from whom it is 
 claimed that he obtained an attcstatiim Ordinationis ; but 
 no one has thus far been able to get a sight of it/"^ 
 
 Further, after his return he continued to importune 
 Dominie Falckner to ordain him. In the meantime he 
 settled in Schohari, while boasting of his ordination. In 
 presence of Dominie Falckner, when asked why he had 
 concealed this from him, he replied : 
 
 "The Devil had blinded him, and he had shed bloody 
 tears, regretting that he had lied to him." 
 
 As soon as he had established himself there, he began to 
 break the bread in the Holy Communion, and in his sermon 
 even ordered such as objected to this to leave the church. 
 
 Accordingly, some fifty-two members of the congrega- 
 gation wrote to Dominie Falckner, and as the latter called 
 him to account, he answered with a deal of absurd talk, 
 in which he said : 
 
 "I adhere to the words of Christ, and all those who do 
 otherwise than Christ commanded shall stand in judgment 
 either here or hereafter." 
 
 <^ Vide, pp. 111-112, supra. 
 
 «Fora full and authentic account of Rev. Gerhard Henkell and Van 
 Dieren's actions in Pennsylvania, sec Rev. T. E. Schmauk's " History of 
 the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania, 163S-1S80." 
 
 *^ Vide, p. 134. 
 
128 Dominie Jtistus Falckner. 
 
 Dominie Hesselius was not alone in giving this person 
 a bad pronosticoji. Another one of his friends, after de- 
 fending him for his bread-breaking and speaking of him 
 with great praise, let this sentence slip into a letter dated 
 Feby. 20, 172^ : 
 
 *' If his heart is as his mouth speaketh, so it stands well 
 with him. If it is falsehood then I hope that it will not last 
 long, and he must come to shame and ruin." 
 
 Alas ! the congregation at Schohari is now totally scat- 
 tered and he had to leave there some years ago ; the 
 church as well as the parsonage there has become a spoil 
 for the Reformed of that locality. 
 
 The few who still remain keep to the Reformed. In the 
 year 1723 the Lutherans on the Hudson River had in mind 
 to call this J. B. Van Dieren. The plan was, however, 
 abandoned after a consultation with Dominie Falckner. 
 Now as he found that he could meet with no success here 
 in New York, he went to the Reformed at Tappan and 
 offered to preach the Gospel of Christ unto them, as Christ 
 had commanded. Whereupon they took him to Dominie 
 Anthonides on Long Island, to discover whether he was of 
 the Evangelical Lutheran or Reformed faith. As thus far 
 I have not received any account of this act from the mouth 
 of Dominie Anthonides, I will not repeat the current 
 rumors, though I learn them from trustworthy men.^^ 
 
 In the meantime, as he was not able in a single instance 
 ad iniei'im to intrude himself here, he moved to Hacken- 
 sack, as he travels around wherever there may happen to 
 
 *9It is strange that in all of this controversy about an ordination for 
 Van Dieren no mention is made upon the Reformed side officers of Peter 
 Tesschenmaeker, a young licensed bachelor of divinity — ordained in New 
 York, 1679 — Thirty years later Anthonides and Du Bois refused to be a 
 party to a similar ordination. Vide "A Manual of the Reformed Church 
 in America," by Rev. E. T. Corwin, D.D., New York, 1902, p. 52. 
 
Appeal to Consistory. 129 
 
 be a church without a pastor, whether Evangelical, Luth- 
 eran or Reformed. 
 
 I may mention that his father-in-law looked at me trust- 
 ingly and asked, as I delivered my first sermon, that I 
 would permit him to till my pulpit and preach in the after- 
 noons and when I happened to be in Albany. 
 
 It is reported that since my arrival he still preaches in 
 one of the Van Buskerkes' houses. Although the Van Bus- 
 kerkes themselves come to hear my preaching, they ex- 
 cuse themselves by saying that he was invited there prior 
 to my coming. But neither he [Van Buskerke] nor his 
 household came to me to join in our communion, when the 
 whole congregation partook of the Communion eight days 
 ago. 
 
 Accordingly I beseech your Right Worshipful and Most 
 Honorable Reverences, with all proper respect, that you 
 will kindly consider and take to heart the pitiful condition 
 of my congregation ; and even if I am to suffer poverty, for 
 which I shall have the sympathy of all friends both exalted 
 and lowly, I trust they will come to my aid, so that the 
 Ev. Lutheran Church here shall not succumb, which with- 
 out assistance is unavoidable, unless God should perform a 
 miracle. 
 
 Further, I beg of you for advice as to how I shall con- 
 duct myself toward Van Dieren, particularly if he attempts 
 as a wolf to break in among my sheep. 
 
 Lastly, I think to repeat my own and the church coun- 
 cil's objection against Johann Sybrand's demands and pre- 
 tentions. I trust that your Right Worshipful Consistory 
 will give its decision accordingly. This man shows a 
 thoroughly wicked heart. He professes to be a consistent 
 Lutheran. Now it has come to light that he has no religion, 
 as during his whole lifetime he has never once partaken of 
 
130 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 our communion, and now he even proclaims publickly that 
 God's Word is preached by others just as well. 
 
 Notwithstanding his enormous bill for provisions in Am- 
 sterdam and England, as true as God lives I have had to 
 suffer and have almost died, as this Captain Serley will 
 himself testify. During the voyage there was no surplus of 
 anything except brandy and whiskey, wherewith during 
 the whole voyage he treated the ship's crew, as he now 
 sets forth upon my account. 
 
 The bills, of which I send you the originals, will plainly 
 show you his character, and even these were only gotten 
 from him after much trouble. At first he refused to let any 
 one see either of the invoices or present his bill until a reso- 
 lution was passed that he should again be sent out, and 
 what he was to receive for his trouble. 
 
 Thereupon he demanded £4 monthly as pay, and seven 
 Holland florins weekly as spending money. Eventually 
 he presented this bill after he had changed the values to 
 the Holland standard, although in our findings he ac- 
 counted for the collection funds in German money. 
 
 The counter charges were made up from my journal 
 according to the time and of what we approved, and I truly 
 believe that even here he was too greatly favored. Al- 
 though I depend entirely upon your Right Worshipful 
 Consistory that all wrong will be redressed, we shall ac- 
 count ourselves very beholden to your reverences if you 
 will trouble yourselves with this matter. 
 
 Lastly, I must remind your Right Worshipful and Most 
 Reverend sirs, as our people appear so tardy about com- 
 mencing the building, whether it would not be policy for 
 the Right Worshipful Consistory to inform us if we have 
 any funds on deposit in Holland, or if we should look 
 elsewhere for aid. We will then send a plan of the pro- 
 
Abrupt Close of Missive. 
 
 131 
 
 posed building, and will promise to bring it to completion 
 according thereto. 
 
 I trust that your Right Worshipful and Most Reverend 
 sirs will hereby see the honesty of my intentions, which 
 are not intended for my own, but for the glory of the 
 church, and that I be not mistaken in my appeal whereby 
 the richest blessings of God. ***** 
 
 [Here the missive comes to an abrupt close, as the last 
 page is missing.] 
 
 The following pastoral explains itself. It was sent to the 
 Hackensack congregation, upon Berkenmeyer's complaint 
 that they had accepted Van Dieren as a pastor. This 
 letter is of great importance, as it affords a positive proof of 
 Dominie Rudman's appointment as Vice Bishop for Penn- 
 sylvania, under the signature of all the resident Swedish 
 clergy on the Delaware. 
 
 ESCirXCllEON OF HOLLAND. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The Swedish Pastoral to Hackensack, N. J. 
 
 Honoured Vestry-Men oj the 
 Congregation atHakinsack^ 
 dearly beloved Frie^ids.^ 
 We the Swedes Ministers in 
 this Colony,^^ have got your 
 Letter, in the which you 
 are pleased, dearly beloved 
 Friends, to propose to us 
 your Complaints against yi?//^ 
 Bernhard Van Dteren, whom 
 ye have taken to be your 
 Teacher, asking for our Coun- 
 sel in this Matter. 
 
 For the ist ye are pleased 
 to inform us, That he omits 
 all the Christian Ceremonies of our Evangelical Church, 
 
 60 Pages 70 to 91 of the Berkenmejer pamphlet reprint Verbatim et 
 literatim. This copy was obtained through the courtesy of William C. 
 Lane, Esq., Librarian of Harvard College Library. 
 
 51 Wicaco (Gloria Dei, Philadelphia), Christiana (Trinity, Wilmington, 
 Delaware), Pennsneck (St. George's, Salem County, N. J.), Racoon 
 (Swedesboro). 
 
 ( 132) 
 
 '^^^^^^^ 
 
 1 ]^^ 
 
 ^£d f 
 
 im ^ 
 
 ^WW-A 
 
 ^lK'^^^^S^^ 
 
 
 ^'^^^M^ 
 
 ^m 
 
 ARMS OF SWEDEN. 
 
Statement of Swedish Pastors. 133 
 
 introducing new ones, as breaking the Bread at the Ad- 
 ministration of the Holy Sacrament, confessing that never 
 himself has taken it otherways, neither will alter his Mind, 
 about this Matter, for the Time to Come. And by such 
 his doings, several Persons are departed from this World 
 without taking the Sacrament, for this oneley Reason. 
 
 For the 2d. That John Bernhard Van Dieren has 
 made very absurd Church Constitutions, in the wich he 
 proposes what he will have his Hearers do, forgeting his 
 own Duty towards the Congregation ; and being Blas- 
 phemious in those oppose against his Absurdities. Never- 
 theless himself transgresses his own Laws. 
 
 For the 3d. He has saught for to make some Differ- 
 ences in Mr. Bcrckanneycrs Congregation at Albany^ and 
 he for all is a Minister of Christ lawfully called, ordained 
 and sent. And for such his doings he is of the Vestry ex- 
 cluded from serving your Church any longer, except he 
 will come before us Szucdcs Ministers and answer to these 
 Complaints. But he replys. That we are his Enemies, and 
 so not willing to come, using other Means to get into the 
 Church by Help of a Widow, and Constituting a new 
 Vestry, which upon these Occasions may sute him. 
 
 For the /j-th. We understand, that he gos about to other 
 Congregations, not uniting but destroying them. 
 
 For the §th. Ye have sent us an Extract of the Lutheran 
 Consistorium at Amsterdam, and their Judgment about this 
 
 The Swedish Lutheran Church in Lower Penn's Neck, Salem Co., N. 
 J., was built on ground given by Jean Jaquett, January 8, 1715. The build- 
 ing of the church was immediately commenced, but not completed until 
 March 31, 1717. It was of logs twentj-four feet square and weather- 
 boarded. This was replaced in 1808 by the present substantial brick 
 church, as the original one had fallen into decay. The church was trans- 
 ferred into the Protestant Episcopal fold by Rev. John Wade in 17S9 when 
 the first Vestry was chosen. 
 
134 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 John Bernard Van Dteren, how unfit a Person he is for 
 serving the Church of God. 
 
 These, as we perceive, are the Contents of your Letter. 
 And verily we cannot but pity your Condition. 
 
 For the isL Ye did do very 111, dearly beloved Friends^ 
 in taking up with such a pretended Minister ; because if 
 ordained, it is not done lawfully. He was with us about 
 his Ordination, but we denied it him, for two Reasons. 
 Firsts that we had not such Authority, that we could ordain 
 Ministers. Mr. Rudman indeed did ordain Mr. Falckner^ 
 the late Minister of the Lutheran Congregation at New- 
 York; but he was made a Suffragane, or a Vice-Bishop by 
 the Arch-Bishop of Sweedland. 
 
 For the second. That we thought him not qualified for 
 that Sacred Function. Seeing now that he could not get 
 Ordination by us, he gos up to Mr. Hinckler^^'^ living 
 about Manatanien,^^ and by him, some how was ordained 
 
 is likely enough. But yet when Mr. Lidman once was 
 with Mr. Hinckler, and among other things did ask him 
 about Van Dieren his Ordination, he protested then, That 
 Van Dieren was never ordained by him. However Mr. 
 Lidman has no Witness, but will take his Oath before any 
 Magistrate, that he heard Mr. Hinckler say such a Thing. 
 In the mean Time do ye think, dearly beloved Friends, 
 that Mr. Hinckler (God knows what he hath to shew for 
 his Ordination of Ministers) could ordain him alone, and 
 we four Swedes Ministers, sent hither by Royal and Epis- 
 
 **Rev. Gerhard Henkell, vide Schmauk, "Lutheran Church in Penn- 
 sylvania, 1638-1800," pp. \i^\ct seq. 
 ^*Maxatawny. 
 
Reasons for Refusal. 135 
 
 copal Power, by the Consent of two Kingdoms, and 
 farthermore recommended by the Venerable Society for 
 Propagating the-j^Gospel in foreign Parts, could not ? And 
 if he will say, That this was done in Case of Necessity, we 
 deny that too ; because we have Vessels yearly and 
 
 BOOK PLATE OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROrACJATION OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 monthly going for Europe^ w^hether he could come, get 
 necessary Learning, be lawfully called, examined, ordained 
 and sent ; and not get his Ordination by a single Minister, 
 contrary to the Scripture, and likewise the Canons and 
 
136 Dominie Justus Falckner, 
 
 Ecclesiastical Constitutions of the Church. Mr. HesseliuSy 
 our late Pragpositus did write a Letter ^^ to Mr. Falckner 
 aforenamed, in the which he proposes the Reasons, why 
 this Van Dieren could not be ordained by us, and we be- 
 lieve, is yet in being, and therefore desire it may be trans- 
 lated into your Dutch Tongue, and read in your Congre- 
 gations, that ye may see whatsoever his Proceedings have 
 been. He says farther, that we are his Enemies. And 
 we truely declare, that we hate not his Person, but his 
 Deeds, being no more Enemies to him than the Apostle 
 St. Peter was to Simon, when he gave him a good Coun- 
 sel, perswading him to better Behaviours. Being a Tay- 
 lor, we perswaded him to keep to his Trade, and leave the 
 sacred Office to more fit Persons, or get himself through 
 lawful Means. But he would take his own way. And 
 ye now, dearly beloved Friends, see the Issue of it. We 
 also disown him to be a Minister of Christ, and likewise to 
 be our Brother in the sacred function in order to our Evan- 
 gelical Church. 
 
 For the 2d. As leaving out the Ceremonies and Holy 
 Prayers used so long Time, and with so great Edification 
 in the Church of God, and making new ones, we highly 
 dislike. Belonging his breaking the Bread at the Holy 
 Sacrament, it is in it self an indifferent thing, if the Church 
 had so constituted it we might as well break the Bread, as 
 use Wafers ; but a single Minister and a single Congrega- 
 tion ought not to take upon themselves to alter the Cere- 
 monies and make new ones. 
 
 For the jd. That he is so busie to go about to other 
 People and make Differences in Mr. Berkenmeyers Con- 
 gregation, is a great Sin. But he that is unjust in one 
 thing, is also in others. We hope for all they will for the 
 future beware of such Ministers. 
 
 ^Vide pp. Ill, 112 supra. 
 
,703-MEMORlAL OF DOM. JUSTUS FALCKNER-1903 
 
 PHOTO. FURNISHED 
 
 SWEDISH CHURCHES ON THE DELAWARE. 
 «.COON CHURCH, SWEOESBORO, GLOUCESTER COUNTV, N. . 
 
 ORGANIZED 1698. 
 
Reasons for Refusal. 137 
 
 For the ^th. Ye have done very well, Dearly beloved 
 Friends in excluding him from the Service of your Church, 
 and better ye will do, if ye hear him no more, since he is 
 like to destroy your Congregation, Neither take up with 
 such Men, till they can shew necessary Testimonies from 
 some Consistory in Europe^ of their Lawful Ordination 
 and likewise a good Conversation. 
 
 For the §th. We are of the same Mind with the Ven- 
 erable Consistory at Amsterdain. 
 
 And so, Dearly beloved Friends., we hope ye will take 
 our Answer in good Part, and send a copy of it, or the 
 Original to Mr. Derkemneyers Congregation dX JSfezu-Tork 
 and Albany^ to be read there. Not that we have got any 
 Authority more than other Ministers. But we have a Prec- 
 edent in Ecclesiastical History. That if any Church did 
 forsake the Truth, or commit Disorders in any kind, other 
 Churches did sometime take upon them (as the Case did 
 move) to warn, advise, reprove it, and so declare against 
 its Proceedings, as prejudicial not onely to the Wellfare of 
 that Church, but to the common Interest of Truth and 
 Peace ; but this was not in Way of Commanding Author- 
 ity, but of fraternal sollicitude. So did the Roman Church 
 interpose in reclaiming the Church of Corinth from its 
 Disorders and Seditions. So did St, Cyprian and St. 
 Denys of Alexandria meddle in the Affairs of the Roman 
 Church, exhorting Novation and his Adherents to return 
 to the Peace of their Church. If any Dissention or Frac- 
 tion did arise, other Churches, upon Notice thereof, should 
 yeld their Aid to quensh and suppress it, countenancing 
 the Peacable, checking and disavowing the Fractious. So 
 did St. Cyprian help to discountenance the Novation 
 Schism, Thus w^e all Christians should assist one another 
 in the common Defence of Truth, Pietv and Peace, when 
 
138 
 
 Dominie Justus Falckner. 
 
 they are assaulted in the Propagation of the Faith and 
 Enlargement of the Church, which is to contend together 
 for the Faith of the Gospel, to be good Soldiers of Christ, 
 warring the good Warfare, striving for the Faith once 
 delivered to the Saints. So we commit You and the 
 whole Congregation to Gods fatherly Care, remaining. 
 Dearly beloved Friends 
 
 Yotir constant true Well- Wishers and Brethren 
 Philadelphia the J/5/ Day 
 
 of October^ 1727. 
 
 Jonas Lidman, 
 
 Pastour & Provost at Wicacoe. 
 Samuel Hesselius, 
 
 Minister of the Gospel at Christiana. 
 
 Petrus Tranberg, 
 Minister at Racoon^ 
 Andreas Windrufwa, 
 Minister at Pennsneck. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abelius, Dom., 55. 
 
 Amsterdam, report to, 81. 
 
 Anthonides, Rev., 128. 
 
 Arentiiis Bernhardus, 82. 
 
 Avelius, Dom., see Abelius. 
 
 Beekman, Samuel, 77, 79. 
 
 Beem, A., 120. 
 
 Berkenmejer, Pamphlet printed by 
 
 Zenger, 1728, 116-118. 
 Bidrck, Rev. Eric, 52, 70; account 
 of Falckner's Ministrations, 92, 93. 
 Birger, Johan, 113. 
 Boehme, Rev. Anton, ill. 
 Boolt, Fridiricus, 120. 
 Bos, Joh. Jacob, 120. 
 Boskerk (Buskerke), Andreas Van, 
 77. 120. 
 
 Cornelius Van, 98. 
 
 Laur Van, 77. 
 
 Pieter, A., 98. 
 Bradford, William, prints book, 86. 
 Brewer, Catherine, 102. 
 
 Elizabeth, 102. 
 
 Lieut. Richard, 102. 
 Brujns, P., 84. 
 
 Chambers, Richard, lOi. 
 
 Sarah, loi. 
 
 William, lOi. 
 Christian, Thomas, 106. 
 
 Pieter, 106. 
 Christina Swedish Church, 132-133. 
 Churches in Philadelphia, 42. 
 Clarkson, Rev. Joseph, 62. 
 Clay, Rev. J. C, 62. 
 
 Rev. Slaytor, 62. 
 
 Clayton, Rev. Thomas, 25, 33. 
 Collin, Rev. Nicholas, 62; portrait, 
 
 71- 
 
 Falckner, Anna Catharina, 109. 
 
 Benedictus, 109. 
 
 Christian, 13. 
 
 Rev. Daniel, Sr., 13. 
 
 Daniel, birth, 13; Pietist, 14; 
 visits Europe, 24 ; autograph, 
 25 ; selected for mission, 27; 
 citizen and pilgrim, ib. ; 
 curious account, 28 ; continu- 
 ation 1704, 29; returns to 
 America, 31; colophon, ib.\ 
 on the Wissahickon, 31 ; as 
 bailiff of Germantown, 32 
 attorney for Furly, 34, 35 
 slandered by Pastorius, 36-37 
 attends Swedish Church, 43 
 call to New York, 121. 
 
 Justus, genealogy, 13 ; official 
 record, 14; matriculates, 15 ; as 
 a hymnist, i8 ; Auf ihr Chris- 
 ten, 19; celebrated hymns by, 
 22 ; at Lubeck, 23 ; appointed 
 attorney, 30 ; arrives in 
 America, 31 ; on the Wissa- 
 hickon, 32 ; Burgess at Ger- 
 mantown, 32 ; becomes her- 
 mit, 33; writes to Dom. 
 Muhlen, 33; return to the 
 world, 34 ; attorney for Fur- 
 ly, 34-35 ; missive to Europe, 
 38; hermit, 39; attends Gloria 
 Dei, 43 ; pleads for organ, 45 ; 
 
 139 
 
140 
 
 Index. 
 
 answers it — Rudman's reply, 
 55-56 ; called to New York, 
 57 ; Biorck's letter, 58-59 ; 
 ordination of Gloria Dei, 60- 
 71 ; in New York, 72 ; notifies 
 Amsterdam Consistory, 73 ; 
 ordination certificate, 74 ; first 
 entry, 76; official signature, 
 77; serves country churches, 
 78; appeal for funds, 78; 
 signs report, 84; publishes 
 text-book, 86; title, 88; hymn 
 from, 89 ; activity of, 90; seal, 
 94; church recor(ls, 95; bap- 
 tizes at Hackensack, 98-99 ; 
 record, ib. ; list of communi- 
 cants, 103 ; baptizes Indian 
 slave, 104 ; Negro slave, 106 ; 
 marries Gerritge Hardick, 
 108; reports to Amsterdam, 
 109; trouble with Van Dieren, 
 III; death of, 113; character 
 and attributes, 114; opinion 
 of Van Dieren, 125. 
 
 Paul Christian, 13. 
 
 Sarah Justa, 109. 
 
 Francke, Rev. Aug. Herman, 16, 24; 
 
 receives Daniel Falckner, 27. 
 Frankfort Company appoints Kel- 
 
 pius and Falckner, 30. 
 Friedrich's University, 14; view, 15; 
 
 interior, 17; bi-centennial, 27. 
 Furly, Benjamin, autograph, 30. 
 
 Geissler, Daniel, 32. 
 Gloria Dei, mention of, 42 ; ordina- 
 tion at, 60. 
 Guinea, Are of, 102. 
 
 Hackensack extends call, 120. 
 Henkell, Rev. Gerhart, 134. 
 Hentz, Pieter, 113. 
 
 Hesselius, Dom., 127. 
 
 letter from Rudman, 52-54 ; 
 
 Andrew, letter by, 111-12. 
 
 Rev. Samuel, 138. 
 Heyns, Godfried, 120. 
 Hoesan, Niclas Van, 109. 
 Holland, Lieut. Henry, 102. 
 Huttrot, Job. Jacob, 120. 
 
 Jauert, Balthasar, 30. 
 
 (Jawert) Johann, 14, 30. 
 
 recorder of Germantown, 22. 
 Janvert, vide Jauert. 
 Jonas the organist, 33. 
 Julian quoted, 21. 
 
 Kallnis, Mrs. Margareta, 102. 
 Keen, Eric, 50. 
 
 Matz (Matthew), 50. 
 Kelpius, Johannes, 14, 25, 30, 33, 
 
 63. 
 Knoll, Pastor, notes Falckner's 
 
 death, 113. 
 Kocherthal, Rev. Josua, 90, 93, 106. 
 
 Louisa Abigail, 106. 
 
 Sibella Charlotta, 106. 
 Konig, Job. David, 120. 
 Konneken, Balthasar Jasper, 31. 
 Koster, H. B., 14. 
 
 La Grangie (Lagransie), Johannes 
 
 Hans, 77-84. 
 Lidman, Rev. Jonas, 127, 138. 
 Lloyd, David, 35. 
 Lock, Rev. Lars, 55. 
 Loons, Jan Van, 106. 
 Ldscher, quoted, 87. 
 Lutheran church, location of, loo-i. 
 
 Albany, 102. 
 
 Condition of in New York, I20- 
 I. 
 
 Muhlen, Dom. Heinrich, 23. 
 Missive, 10, 38, 48. 
 
Index. 
 
 141 
 
 Muller, Dom. Ileinrich, vide Muh- 
 len. 
 Joh. C, 130. 
 
 Nicum, Rev. J., 73. 
 Norris, Isaac, 35. 
 
 Paper money, 1709, 105. 
 
 Pastorius, Francis Daniel, charges 
 fraud, 35; arms, 36; slanders Falck- 
 ner, 36-37. 
 
 Penn, William, appoints Falckner 
 brothers attorney, 34, 35. 
 
 Pennsneck, Swedish Ch., 132-3. 
 
 Peper, Michael, 120. 
 
 Philadelphian Society, 25. 
 
 Pietists on Wissahickon, 24, 25, 31. 
 
 Racoon Swedish Ch., 132-133. 
 
 Rambo, Peter, 50. 
 
 Reformed Church in New York, 85. 
 
 Rudman, Anders, 52. 
 
 Rev. A., 42 ; offers to preach in 
 German, 44; goes to New 
 York, 49; autograph, 50; 
 entry in register, 51 ; yellow 
 fever, 52 ; letter to Falckner, 
 53; as vice-Bishop, 60-71, 79, 
 82 ; entry in church book, 97, 
 98. 
 
 Sandel, Rev. Andrew, 49, 52, 70, 93. 
 
 Rev. Andreas, iii. 
 Saturnine Quaker spirit, 45. 
 Schleydorn, 124. 
 Schiitz, J. H., 120. 
 
 Joh. Michael, 84, 109, 120. 
 Sects in Pennsylvania, 42, 43. 
 Selig, Johann, 33. 
 Selskoorn, see Abelius. 
 
 Serley, Capt., 129. 
 
 Sharpe, Rev. John, 106-107. 
 
 Sprogel,John Henry, autograph, 14. 
 
 Ludovic, 14. 
 Streit, Christian, 107. 
 
 Maria Magdalena, 107. 
 St. Thomas, funds from, 79. 
 Storch, Arnold, 14. 
 Sturm, David, 113. 
 
 J. Pieter, 113. 
 Swedish Churches on Delaware 
 
 transferred to Episcopal fold, 60- 
 
 62; Trinit}-, Wilmington, St. 
 
 George's, Pennsneck, Racoon, 
 
 Swedesboro, 132-133. 
 Sybrand, Joh., 119. 123, 129. 
 
 Tays, Christine Elizabeth, 107. 
 
 Johann Philip, 107. 
 Thomas, Rev. Mr., 50. 
 Thomasius, Christian, 14, 15. 
 Tranberg, Rev. Petrus, 138. 
 
 Van Dieren, J. Bernhard, 111; con- 
 troversy, 116-131; Swedish pas- 
 toral against, 132-138. 
 
 Veit, 77; (Veih), Joh., 84. 
 
 Vesey, Rev. Wm., loS. 
 
 Weems, Elizabeth, 102. 
 Wesling, Rev. J., 124. 
 Weyrauch's Hiigel, quoted, 20, 23. 
 Windrufwa, Rev. Andreas, 138. 
 Woglom, Pieter van, 77, 84. 
 Woglam, Peter, 104. 
 
 Zetskoorn, see Abelius. 
 Zimmerdiinger.Uldrig, 120. 
 

 
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